Norfolk Academy alumni, LeGuillow, bringing change to Hofstra University and beyond
NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Academy 2019 graduate Sydney LeGuillow, who shined as a student-athlete, is drawing praise for the service and leadership she is providing in college.
Sydney attends Hofstra University in New York, where she plays field hockey. She also is serving this school year as president of the university’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which handles a number of on-campus responsibilities, including building a sense of community across teams and throughout the athletics department, organizing service projects, and recommending NCAA legislation. As a sophomore, Sydney was the SAAC equity and wellness coordinator.
Hofstra competes in the Colonial Athletic Association, which named Sydney its December 2021 Female Student-Athlete of the Month. She has earned聽a number of other honors in college: National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I National Academic Squad member, CAA Commissioner鈥檚 Academic Honor Roll, Hofstra Pride Community Service Award and Colonel E. David Woycik, Jr Award for Leadership and Service.
At Norfolk Academy,聽Sydney played聽field hockey, softball, and聽indoor track and field. She earned a聽field hockey coaches award as a senior and a聽Female Breakthrough Athlete Award as a junior. She also earned a聽softball coaches award聽in 2017.
The CAA highlighted Sydney on January 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as聽it聽honored the life of Dr.聽King, publishing an almost 7-minute video on her work聽continuing聽to carry on his聽legacy. Sydney聽鈥渓eads with courage and boldness to bring forward change to her campus and beyond,” the league said.
Sydney has created a partnership between Hofstra and STRONG Youth, an organization that works to end youth gang violence and empower聽the next generation. Sydney is interning for the organization.
鈥淲hen I met Sydney for the first time, I knew that she was going to be a lifelong partner,” Beria Gaxiola, a STRONG Youth director, said in the video. 鈥淗er passion was measurable but also her level of understanding of the issues and the challenges facing our youth and families was truly refreshing.”
Sydney said she has always had a drive to create change. 鈥淚f there’s a problem, then we should be working to fix it,” she said.
Her advice to others who want to follow Dr. King’s legacy and create positive change: 鈥淒o what you think is right. Do what you want to do. If there’s an avenue that you want to take, take it.”
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