FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University women's basketball player Alexis Murphy officially received her Allstate WBCA Good Works Team Award in Indianapolis as a part of host of events surrounding the honor.
 
Murphy joined nine other recipients of this prestigious award, traveling to the site of the NCAA Division I Final Four and the championship games for both DII and DIII. She arrived on Saturday, April 2, and met the rest of the team as part of the opening welcome.
 
"Saturday we had sort of like an initial squad meeting with your college, everyone told what was important to them and what they are passionate about," she said. "It's humbling to know that there's so many other people giving back to their community, specifically through women's basketball. It's funny too, we've started a group chat since then, and have talked about collaborating on different things. After a few days, I have a few new friends, and maybe one that's even going to be a part of my staff."
 
On Sunday, the Good Works Team was able to listen to a speaker as part of an engagement activity named Jeffery Halter. His foundation, Why Women, advocates for females in the business world, and Murphy was able to speak to him about a possible partnership as well as purchase his book.
 
Monday included a visit to the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center. The GWT prepared and decorated care journals for the patients. Murphy's words of encouragement on her journal were "Stepping stones," "Taking charge," and "We're in this together." She was able to snap a picture with a patient named Donald (included in the gallery), whose wife texted later, "Thanks for bringing a ray of sunshine into our room today."
 
When Murphy received her award, she was escorted onto the court by WBCA ambassador and basketball legend Tamika Catchings. She too had the opportunity to have some one-on-one time with the very personable Catchings, who is currently preparing to play in her final WNBA season.
 
"She is someone I hope to collaborate with in the future as well," said Murphy of Catchings. "She was so in tune with finding out what we're doing in our communities, and really wanted to get to know us personally. I told her after spending the day with her, you're so much more than just a basketball player. I'm honored to meet you not just because you're a WNBA legend, but because of what you mean to young women as a role model."
 
The actual receiving of the plaque was not Murphy's motivation, however.
 
"It's really hard to pinpoint what I felt during that exact moment, because of all the things that have happened on the trip, that wasn't my focus," she said. "The entire Good Works Team, we got together afterwards and though we want to recommend to wear our uniforms like we did, we don't want it to say our names on the big screen. We want to represent our university and the organization we're involved with. We want to be altruistic individuals, and we want to share what we're giving back to the community."
 
The Good Works Team remained in Indianapolis when Murphy was reached, ahead of Tuesday's DI National Championship game between Connecticut and Syracuse. They too were scheduled that night to have a meet and greet with WBCA director Danielle Donahue. Murphy is also looking ahead to a very busy next few months and more outreach with Hoop For Haiti.
 
"I've reached out to Allstate here directly, and the Why Women founder (Jeffery Halter) to see about contributing towards finishing the school in Haiti, because it's almost there," she said. "Also, for each camp this summer in the various states we'll be in (through Murphy's Hoop Through Life), each has its own specific cause. Another one of the girls, Karlie Storkson, is putting me in touch with her organizations including a homeless shelter. We're working together as a true team on the Good Works Team."
 
Past that, she and some of her former teammates will actually make the trip to Destiny Village this summer. Molly Blomer and Richelle Carach will be part of the group traveling June 11-18, and Monaye Merritt and Jasmine Wilkins continue to be instrumental as part of the foundation. Murphy wished to thank not only them but more of the NSU family.
 
"I want to thank Coach (LeAnn) Freeland for making it a point on our first day at NSU what our core values are, the biggest to me being community," she said. "I was able to see and catch up with Coach (Brook) Kohlheim this weekend, she has always been a mentor as someone who has supported me and said I could do it with my camps. Tepe and D (coaches Abbie Tepe and Danielle Robinson) have been more than supportive too. It's hard to mention everyone, they've all been such a big part of pushing me to the next level.
 
"I also of course want to thank my family, and the WBCA and Allstate for selecting me to be a part of this team. And even though I wish I was on the court with my team, I'm super empowered, humbled and redirecting my thoughts to be positive because this is my National Championship. It's really cool to be able to embrace Nova Southeastern's core value of community, representing NSU both on our basketball team and through our administration and president's office."