UNC Women's Basketball star earns prestigious university award

The Jim Tatum Memorial Award was established in 1959 in honor of former UNC football coach James M. Tatum.

Each year, the award is presented under the sponsorship of The University of North Carolina Athletic Association to the varsity intercollegiate athlete who has performed with distinction in their sport and who has contributed to the university community through constructive participation in co-curricular activities.

This week, it was announced that Alyssa Ustby, a star of the UNC women's basketball team as well as a member of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, has earned this year's award.

We've seen what Ustby is capable of on the basketball court, as she is an All-ACC-caliber player who is regarded as one of the best at her position in the entire country. She does a little bit of everything for Courtney Banghart's team, as her energy and high motor are two of the traits that quickly stand out when you watch her compete.

Off the court, Ustby is just as valuable to the university, as she's served as a tremendous asset as well as a leader throughout the school community. She has used the ability to benefit off her Name, Image, & Likeness (NIL) to her advantage but has also utilized her social media presence to highlight other teams and student-athletes that North Carolina has to offer through a video series in which she tries to participate in various sporting events.

When you think of the ideal "student-athlete," Alyssa Ustby is the epitome of what fellow student-athletes should strive to be, as the impact she's made at the University of North Carolina is one that won't simply be measured by what she accomplished on the basketball court.