For the second time in her Trinity career, Shelby DeVore, a senior on the women’s golf team, was named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Character & Community Women’s Athlete of the Week.
Each week, the SCAC gives this award to one male and one female student-athlete in the conference who excels not only in their sport, but in their community as well. DeVore first won this honor in the spring of 2016.
“It’s an honor. The fact that I have been able to win it twice is really special to me,” DeVore said. “The fact that the athletic department wants to recognize me and the work that I do for the community means so much.”
When not chipping away on the golf course, DeVore spends her time volunteering at a few different nonprofits in the San Antonio area. Over the past year, she has devoted time to tutoring at Sunshine Cottage, a school in San Antonio for deaf children.
“I tutor over there twice a week. I help the kids with reading, math and writing. It’s just so much fun and it’s a great way for me to get away and have some fun off campus,” DeVore said.
She also helped run a golf camp with Kinetic Kids, a sports organization for children with intellectual and physical disabilities. Each week, DeVore was paired up with a different student and practiced golf with them one-on-one.
“It was cool because I got to know the kid, but also help him or her with the game that I love,” DeVore said.
Sara McCarty, DeVore’s roommate from last year, has always looked up to her
“Shelby has always gone out of her way to volunteer on a weekly basis and I can tell that she really cares not only about herself but the community as well,” McCarty said.
When hurricane Harvey hit Houston last fall, DeVore was devastated but determined to find a way to help out those who had been affected. That’s when she came up with Holeing Out for Harvey, a fundraiser aimed at helping those along the Texas Gulf Coast.
“We asked people to sponsor us and pledge a certain amount of money for each birdie we made at our tournament. After our tournaments, we contacted our sponsors and they donated the money,” DeVore said.
The team raised over $5,500. Shortly after the fundraiser, the team took a trip down to Rockport and gave the money to families who were directly affected by the storm.
Over the summer, DeVore usually serves as a camp counselor at Camp Olympia in Trinity, Texas. Camp Olympia is a summer camp for kids and has a golf academy component that DeVore helps out with.
On campus, DeVore is editor-in-chief of the Mirage and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and she helps facilitate intramural sports.
Claire Munro, Devore’s coworker at the Intramural program, noted that DeVore puts in a great deal of effort in all that she does.
“Shelby is always looking for ways to improve the intramural program and is always helping out wherever it is needed,” Munro said.
DeVore stressed the importance of student-athletes finding time to volunteer and give back to the community.
“As Trinity athletes, the San Antonio community does so much for us, so it’s important to give back” DeVore said.
She suggested asking around to find volunteering opportunities, whether it be for yourself as an individual or for your team. She emphasized the importance of finding a place that suits your interests.
“I’ve always been interested in golf and kids, so I was able to start there and research different areas that would suit me best,” DeVore said.
As for advice for those looking to get involved with volunteering, DeVore explained that finding something that aligns with your passions is key.
“Find something that you love to do — that way it’s not a chore. Find something that you can truly enjoy,” DeVore said.
