On May 5 the Student Leadership Council and The Office of Student Life and Leadership presented the Student Leadership Awards to outstanding PVCC students at the Annual Student Recognition Celebration. This year, Puma Athletics had the honor of recognizing three outstanding student-athletes as Golden Puma recipients. The honorees of this distinguished award included sophomore Emily White of the Puma Softball team.
The Golden Puma Distinguished Student Leadership Award, the highest bestowed upon PVCC students annually, recognizes model students who have integrated academic excellence with achievement in areas such as leadership, athletics, community service, fine and performing arts, entrepreneurship and career achievement.
Emily White is a 2018 graduate of Centennial High School and came to PVCC in Fall 2018 to join the Softball program.
Emily has twice been honored as a Puma Scholar-Athlete, both in her freshman (2018-19) and sophomore (2019-20) years. She is on track for the same recognition this academic year.
Due to the COVID shutdown of sports in spring 2020, Emily was able to return to the field for the 2021 season. But, not before having taken a detour during the off-season.
In May 2020 while on a camping trip with family and friends, White was in a vehicle accident that caused major injury to her left leg. After many difficult surgeries and deliberations White made the decision for herself to have her left foot amputated.
Since the amputation in June, White has been focused on a comeback. Within two months of amputation, White was walking again. Within four months of amputation, White was running again.
White reached out to Puma Softball head coach Nick Candrea to talk about wanting to come back and play Softball. In February, White returned to Puma Softball practice with the rest of her team for the first time since the COVID shutdown, and for the first time since her accident.
In March White suited up for her third season with Puma softball.
It is believed that White is one of few intercollegiate softball student-athletes to compete with a prosthetic.
Emily officially graduated from PVCC in December 2020 with an Associate in Arts and plans to pursue a career in the medical field.
Well done Emily!
You can view the awards show HERE
