SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Two California college student-athletes — Amiyah Aponte, a junior pitcher on the University of Pacific softball team, and Nigel Wilson, a sophomore forward for the Pasadena City College basketball team — have been selected as the March recipients of the CalHOPE Courage Award.
The monthly CalHOPE award honors California college and university student-athletes who have overcome the stress, anxiety, and mental trauma associated with personal hardships and adversity.
Growing up poor and raised by a single mother in Riverside, Amiyah had a challenging childhood. With her father in and out of prison for most of her life and her mother in financial distress, Amiyah and her two siblings were forced to live with an assortment of family, friends and relatives for the first 12 years of her life.
Even though, on more than one occasion, there was not enough money for food or to fill the car with gas to get to school, Amiyah did not realize her family's struggles until, as a teenager, she noticed friends going on vacation and getting new clothes and shoes, luxuries that were not available to Amiyah. Rather than confront her reality, Amiyah lied to mask the situation.
At this time, her stepfather and grandfather stepped up as the primary providers by working extra hours to care for her and her siblings. Her grandfather involved her in sports to ensure she felt part of the community. When she turned 12, the family finally moved into a home, and she began to have some stability in her life. It was also when she started to understand her mother's, stepfather's, and grandfather's work ethic, sacrifices, and commitment made this a reality.
With these role models, she experienced success both on the field and in the classroom at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside. She was recruited to pitch for the University of the Pacific Tigers. As a freshman, she posted a 2-0 record in 12 appearances, allowing only eight earned runs in 32 innings for a 1.79 ERA (Earned Run Average). Last year she led the pitching staff with 88.2 innings, five wins, a 3.47 ERA, and 1.30 WHIP (Walks and Hits Per Inning Pitched). This year, through March 20, she has a 1-3 record and a 2.67 ERA in 18 innings.
"Watching a strong woman like my mother go through the struggles of being a single mother, but keeping a positive outlook on life, set a great example for me," said Amiyah. "I try to emulate her daily as I take on the many challenges of being a student-athlete."
ABOUT CalHOPE
CalHOPE is a multi-level campaign run by DHCS to connect people with vital mental health and wellness resources and information to help them find their way during difficult times. CalHOPE offers critical behavioral health crisis counseling programs and uses a public health approach that is focused on strength-based strategies of building resiliency and connecting people to the support they need. CalHOPE partners with the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being to promote the CalHOPE Courage Award. CalHOPE resources may be accessed by calling the program's warm line at (833) 317-HOPE (4673) or by visitingwww.calhope.org.
College Sports Communicators: College Sports Communicators is a 3,600-plus member national organization, comprised of the athletic communications, media relations, digital, and creative professionals throughout all levels of collegiate athletics in the United States and Canada.Founded in 1957, the organization is the second oldest management association in intercollegiate athletics. The organization's signature program is the Academic All-America program, honoring thousands of outstanding scholar-athletes annually. To learn more, visit collegesportscommunicators.com.
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