HUSSMAN COMMUNITY AWARD
Junior / Episcopal Collegiate School
WHY SHE WON:
Children toss a ball around in a class as a little boy stands by and watches. His disability prevents him from joining in like the others, causing him to become gripped with fear and the struggle to find inclusion in sports and other activities. Junior Shelby Worsham of Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock has made it her mission to create the Amazing Children Empowered Through Tennis Program (ACE), which invites children with any health condition to play tennis. “I had always loved being with kids,” Worsham said. “My heart hurts for kids who can’t participate in activities. I wanted to help kids in some way — anyway I could. I thought tennis would provide a great way to do that.” Since she was in middle school, Worsham has dreamed of creating a program for children. Her vision came to life in 2016. She began working with Community Connections, a local nonprofit, with the purpose of improving the lives of children with disabilities and their families. “The Amazing Children Empowered Through Tennis Program was an idea that Shelby dreamed of since playing competitive junior tennis in middle school,” said Courtney Leach, executive director of Community Connections, in her letter nominating Worsham. “She networked, designed and implemented ACE Tennis for children with autism and other special needs on her own initiative. She approached me with a proposal to launch ACE Tennis through Community Connections.” Worsham plans and conducts each two-hour session, as well as securing enough volunteers so that each child has a buddy. She has encouraged manygot an of equipmenther classmatesloan fromto volunteerthe Arkansasas well. Tennis She Association and found free courts for her programs by making calls to courts she had previously played on while competing. “I knew I would love the program when I started it, but you never know how you love it until you actuallyhave fun do is it,” what WorshamI love most.”said. “SeeingShe added the kidsthat knowing that they can’t typically participate in tennis but can now is incredibly rewarding. “She has put in over 150 hours to date and averages over 10 to 15 hours a week of time toward her program,” Leach said. “Shelby leads this program with integrity and excellence that far exceed her age. ACE Tennis is making a tremendous difference in the lives of children with developmental disabilities in central Arkansas.”
This past year, Shelby has participated in the 20th Century Club’s Angels of Hope Program and volunteered over 106 hours of service to cancer patients, both in the Oncology Unit of Baptist Health and the 20th Century Club Lodge. She won the Angels of Hope Service Above Self Award for serving over 100 hours while in the program.
Worsham has also participated in the American Heart Association Sweetheart Program, an educational, volunteer-based program that teaches people about heart health and volunteerism. During the Sweetheart program, Worsham volunteered more than 130 hours and was awarded the Allison Justiss Sweetheart Scholarship, given to the outstanding Sweetheart in the American Heart Association Sweetheart Program. Other philanthropic events Worsham has participated in include Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the Big Dam Bridge 100 Bicycle Fest, the Bolo Bash Tennis Tournament and the Powershares Tennis Tournament.
While Worsham excels in tennis and volunteer efforts, she also excels in her studies. She was the recipient of the 2017 Arkansas Children’s Hospital Stella Boyle Smith Summer Science Scholar Award.
“As an exceptional student-athlete, Shelby still makes time to better the community in which she lives through volunteerism,” said Laurie Worsham, Shelby’s mother, in her nomination letter.
“Shelby Worsham is a selfless, talented and special individual,” wrote Davario Hardy, athletic director at Episcopal Collegiate School, in his nomination letter.
Shelby has exhibited strong leadership skills and has set an example for others in the community, both young and old, with her ACE Tennis program.
“We are presenting some big awards tonight, but in some ways this one may be the biggest. Long after athletic skills are diminished and achievements forgotten, the kindnesses shown and services performed for others will live on,” said Lynn Hamilton, President and General Manager of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, at the 2017 banquet. “The creativity of tonight’s honoree and her community-wide reach through volunteering in numerous organizations are just two of the reasons we selected Shelby Worsham of Little Rock’s Episcopal Collegiate School as the 2017 recipient of the Hussman Community Award.”
Laurie said Shelby’s dream of helping others and making it happen shows the true nature of a servant leader.
“She has huge plans for the future in spreading her program to other areas,” Laurie said. “Her college decision will be based on the support she will receive from the educational institution to begin an ACE Tennis program in her new community.”