Courtesy Boston University Athletic Communications
BOSTON ? Senior pitcher Brittany Detwiler has earned the prestigious Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award, as announced by the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A). The awards were handed out at the N4A Convention on Sunday in Phoenix, Ariz. It is given annually to individuals who have made a unique contribution to their respective athletic programs.
The National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) presents the award, as it has done annually since 1991. It is named in honor of Wilma Rudolph, whose life is a story of achieving against the odds. Diagnosed with polio at a young age, Wilma was told that she would never walk again. With undying love and assistance from her family, by the age of 12, she could walk normally without crutches, braces or corrective shoes. It was then that she decided to become an athlete. In the 1960 Rome Olympics, Wilma Rudolph became the first America woman to win three gold medals: 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and the anchor on the 400-meter relay team.
The award is aimed to pay tribute to collegiate athletes who have overcome great personal, academic or emotional odds to reach academic and athletic success, and they are honored for the perseverance that they have shown.
Detwiler, who will receive a degree from BU’s College of Communications, has overcome significant personal tragedy after losing both parents in the summer of 2005 in a domestic dispute. Since then, Detwiler has become the legal guardian to both of her younger brothers ? one just completed his freshman year on BU’s wrestling team ? while continuing her studies at BU, as well as her athletic career. The native of Souderton, Pa., was a member of the 2007 America East regular-season champions and pitched to an 8-4 record and 3.86 ERA. Detwiler also finished her BU softball career fourth all-time in appearances (89), ninth in complete games (35), eighth in shutouts (11), seventh in innings pitched (404.2), sixth in strikeouts (328) and ninth in wins (30).
Detwiler was honored at the N4A’s National Convention at the Pointe South Mountain Resort in Phoenix, Ariz., on Sunday, June 10. For more information on the award winners click here.