Student-Athlete Spotlight: 'From Garden City to Florence'

Posted: Apr 13, 2010

Throughout the 2009-2010 academic year, the Northeast-10 and its member institutions will be featuring student-athletes across the conference in the brand new ‘Student-Athlete Spotlight’ section on the Northeast-10 website. Our 13th installment, submitted by Charlie Viana, Graduate Assistant at Adelphi University, features volleyball player Amy Williams.

By Charlie Viana, Adelphi University

Even with her being more than 4,000 miles away, the awards and accomplishments keep coming to Adelphi University for the Bloomington, Indiana native, Amy Williams. She just completed her final season with the Adelphi Volleyball team, and is finishing up her business management degree in Florence, Italy.

“My semester in Italy has been wonderful. It was difficult at first to immerse in the culture and the language, but after that rocky transition everything has really come into place.”

Aside from taking an Italian and Photography class, Amy has an internship at the hotel, JK Place, which is located in the Piazza Santa Maria Novella and has been awarded and written about in Architectural Digest.

Over her four years with the Brown and Gold, Amy holds several records and has been and a vital part of the team’s three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. She holds the program’s record for most digs in a season, digs in a career, and digs in a single game.

Amy has been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region Team (twice), the East Coast Conference All-Tournament Team, the Northeast-10 All-Tournament Team, the East Coast Conference Third-Team, and named Northeast-10 Libero of the Week (three times).

“Volleyball kept me focused on not only my athletic goals, but my academic goals as well. It allowed me to lead a balanced lifestyle and enabled me to be a part of something far greater than I could've done on my own.”

Her 3.45 grade point average and numerous community service efforts have made Amy a very special student-athlete during her four years at Adelphi. Amy has been a part of Read Across America, Cans for Cancer, Operation Gratitude, the Women, Peace, and Justice Project: CODEPINK, and volunteered for the Adelphi University Breast Cancer Hotline and at the Garden City Bird Sanctuary. Currently in Florence, Amy is volunteering at St. James Church. “It has been rewarding to be able to help out.”

She joined an Adelphi delegation in Atlanta, Georgia for the United States Social Forum, where she was able to learn about grassroots humanitarian efforts and how to help them evolve.

As a part of Cans for Cancer, Amy visited the Winthrop Hospital’s Cancer Center for Kids and presented them a check for over $8,000, some of which she helped raise.

“I always tried my hardest to put my best foot forward in every opportunity presented to me. I have to admit that at first many things began with just the yearning to belong.”

Along with her athletic accomplishments, and being part of CHAMPS Life Skills (Executive Board), SAAC (Student Athletic Advisory Committee) (Executive Board), and a Levermore Global Scholar and Mentor, Amy has compiled an impressive list of academic awards as well.

She has been on the Adelphi University Dean’s List, named to the East Coast Conference (twice) and Northeast-10 Conference All-Academic Team, while receiving the National Student Athlete Recognition Award, as well as being nominated for it again this year.

After graduation, Amy plans on finding a job in the hospitality management field and working towards earning her Master’s Degree.

“I could never have imagined how many influential people I would encounter during my time at Adelphi. My teammates have been my heart and soul of my experience. They have supported me more than I ever deserved and have taught me so much about myself and the person I would like to become.”