Emily Orsini, Sports Editor–
The Kay Yow Servant Leader award is presented to student-athletes across the country who demonstrate leadership and commitment to serving the community.
Jess Zittel, a senior guard on the women’s basketball team, is one of the 63 honorees that have received this award for the 2025-26 season. Zittel is the first student-athlete from Denison to receive this award.
Yow is a former women’s basketball coach at North Carolina State who battled breast cancer before passing away in 2009. The national Division I women’s basketball coach of the year award is named in her honor.
“Being the first player from our program to receive this honor is especially meaningful because it reflects the kind of culture we have built together,” said Zittel. “I hope it shows future players the importance of leading with kindness and purpose, and that what we are doing is so much bigger than basketball.”
That mindset, rooted in empathy and service, shapes how Zittel defines leadership both on and off the court.
“[Servant leadership is] about doing the small, often unseen things including making others feel supported, showing up fully, and creating space for others to succeed,” said Zittel.
“On the court, that can mean being the teammate who picks up others, listens, and encourages. Off the court, that can mean bringing people together and giving time and energy to causes that matter.”
That same philosophy guides how Zittel manages the many responsibilities that come with being both a leader and a student-athlete.
“I learned early how to balance the demands of sport, academics, and service. Between early morning lifts, evening practices, full course loads, and volunteer commitments, I had to become intentional about how I spent my time,” said Zittel.
Time management is a crucial component of being a student-athlete. Where Zittel goes above and beyond is her engagement with P.U.N.T Pediatric Cancer Collaborative, an organization that prioritizes children and their families after receiving a pediatric cancer diagnosis.
“I have had the honor of working closely with the P.U.N.T for the past five years. I was drawn to the organization after losing a young family friend to pediatric cancer, and it has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life,” said Zittel.
“The organization aims to ease the burdens of families facing the devastating hardship of having a child with a cancer diagnosis. Listening to and empathizing with families who have lost children to pediatric cancer has been incredibly inspiring, reminding me that even in the face of immense grief, people find the strength to help and uplift others.”
The lessons Zittel has taken away from the families she’s met through P.U.N.T continue to influence the way she approaches life, leadership, and service. Their stories of resilience and hope have inspired her to pursue a path where she can continue to uplift others, both in her community and in her future profession.
“I hope to carry the values behind the Kay Yow Award into a career in medicine by striving to serve with the same humility, strength, and compassion that this honor represents. This award reminds me that leadership is about caring deeply, listening closely, and putting others first,” said Zittel. “I hope to bring those same values into every patient interaction and community I serve, using medicine to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”
Just as the Kay Yow Award has reminded Zittel of the power of service and compassion, she hopes to pass those lessons on to the next generation. Her outlook on leadership has become not only a personal philosophy but also a message she hopes others will carry with them.
“My advice to young athletes is to find what you are passionate about and a way to use it to make a difference for others. Focus on and enjoy the process, the daily work, the relationships, and the growth that comes with it,” said Zittel.
“One of my favorite quotes from Coach Yow is, ‘When life kicks you, let it kick you forward.’ This reminder has stuck with me. Even in moments of challenge or defeat, there is always an opportunity to grow, to give, and to keep moving forward with purpose and heart.”