PULLMAN, Wash. - Senior Washington State University football student-athlete Kaleb Ford-Dement and WSU Sr. Associate Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Development, Shelby McKay, were recently honored by the university with the WSU Black Alumni Student Excellence Award.

Ford-Dement was named the recipient of the WSU Black Alumni Student Excellence Award. The fifth-year senior is currently completing his degree in Social Sciences while playing on the football team. Throughout his time at WSU, he has become a great team leader and mentor for new Cougs. Ford-Dement is extremely involved in the greater Pullman community, participating in community service opportunities at least once a week throughout the spring semester. He has participated in CougPals, virtual classroom readings, Pullman Senior Center luncheons, and WSU ROAR activities, just to name a few. Additionally, Ford-Dement has volunteered for student-athlete and alumni panels, met with WSU Athletics donors, and displayed a consistent interest in meeting new student-athletes and staff at WSU and community members. His commitment to WSU and Pullman has not gone unnoticed, as he was nominated to serve as a football representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee this academic year. Kaleb leads by example on his team and in the athletic department, and is reliable and willing to serve others.
 

McKay received the WSU Black Alumni Staff Excellence Award. As the leader of the Cougar Pursuit student-athlete development unit, she has created ample opportunities for student-athletes to grow in their career, leadership, and personal development during their time at WSU. Student-athlete involvement and community have grown tenfold since her arrival on the Palouse in January 2020. Throughout the pandemic, McKay kept student-athletes engaged in virtual career and leadership programming and guided the department's two student-athlete affinity groups, the Black Student-Athlete Association (BSAA) and Cougar Pride Student-Athlete Alliance (CPSAA). Additionally, McKay oversees the Athletics DEI Council, and has built staff policies and procedures focused on retention and improved staff culture that can be seen throughout the department. Her involvement and impact are not only seen at WSU, but at a national level. McKay serves on the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) Board of Directors, and in various capacities with Women Leaders in College Sports and the NCAA Leadership Development team.