Alabama’s Sydney Orefice Named Brad Davis SEC Community Service Leader of the Year Award
5/14/2024 10:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Orefice becomes the first women’s tennis player in program history to earn the honor
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama women's tennis player Sydney Orefice was named the 2023-24 Brad Davis Southeastern Conference Female Community Service Leader of the Year, Commissioner Greg Sankey announced Tuesday.
Orefice and Texas A&M tennis player Kenner Taylor were chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from SEC universities. Each will receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship, provided by the SEC.
"Sydney and Kenner have made a commitment to making their world a better place with a dedication to service in their communities," said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. "Sydney and Kenner reflect a passion for a well-rounded college experience that is typical of student-athletes across the SEC and they represent all that can be achieved by the young people in our Conference. I congratulate them, their families and the universities they represent on this prestigious recognition."
A two-time SEC Community Service Team honoree, Orefice is the eighth Crimson Tide athlete to earn the overall honor. Furthermore, this is the first time Alabama has won the award in back-to-back years (Alabama swimmer Derek Mass won in 2023).
"We're extremely proud of Sydney for winning this great award and we couldn't think of someone more deserving," said head coach Jonatan Berhane. "She is a great leader and role model on and off the court that is willing to take time to invest in her teammates and community. Sydney is called to be a helper – we see that everyday in the locker room – and we are excited to see what the future holds for her."
With Orefice's award this year, Alabama now leads the conference with eight overall honorees who have brought the men's and women's Community Service Leader of the Year award home to the Capstone, including: Tony Johnson (football) and Erin Tenbrunsel (volleyball) winning the inaugural honor in 1996, Nichole Lees (soccer, 1998), Andreé Pickens (gymnastics, 2002), Leigh Gilmore (track and field 2012), Lauren Beers (gymnastics, 2016) and Derek Mass (swimming & diving, 2023).
The SEC Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship is named for former Associate Commissioner Brad Davis, who succumbed to cancer on March 2, 2006. He had been a member of the SEC staff since 1988, first serving as an assistant commissioner until 1994 when he was promoted to associate commissioner.
Sydney Orefice | Women's Tennis
- Spent over 100 hours doing community service projects to give back to the University of Alabama and the Tuscaloosa community
- Two-time server at the Soup Bowl of Tuscaloosa
- Five-time volunteer with Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter where she fostered animals
- Five-time helper with Between the Bars – a program that transcribes letters sent to and from prison
- Spent time writing letters to local elders in the community
- Served at University Place Elementary School during the school's Red Ribbon and attended the Red Ribbon Week discussion
- Participated in the Out of the Darkness Community walk, Alabama Athletics' Halloween Extravaganza and the RISE Center Holiday Event
- In addition to participating in the Dan Nielsen Memorial Cup sale, Orefice posted flyers to help promote the event which helped contribute to $7,000+ raised for Habitat for Humanity
- Helped create the sponsorship packets for the Parkinson's Awareness walk, where $2,586 was given to the Parkinson's Foundation
- Took part in Read Across America, a national day that strives for all children and youth in every community across the United States to celebrate reading
- Volunteered at university's wheelchair basketball tournament during this spring
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