The feel of the ball as it leaves her hands, the familiar spin of its flight and the swish as it goes through the net have been a part of Shelbretta “Brett” Ball’s life since she was five. The 5-foot 8-inch sophomore guard inherited her passion for the game from two aunts who played collegiate, international and professional basketball.

“Growing up, I was surrounded by basketball,” Brett says. “I saw my aunts play major college ball, play as members of Olympic teams and play professionally. They experienced so much through basketball. I wanted to do it, too.”

During those formative years, Brett developed a never-give-up attitude and an overwhelming desire to succeed. She trained endlessly and perfected her signature “in and out” move. Recruited by numerous schools, the Mississippi native selected USC in order to play under head coach Dawn Staley and to major in criminal justice and journalism.

However, soon after arriving in Columbia Brett was ruled medically ineligible to play. “It was a devastating blow,” she recalls. And for several months being around the game was painful. “It cut me like a knife just to walk into the gym.”

But Brett didn’t back down. Relying on the same fortitude she used to face down superior opponents, Brett discovered a new game — a new way to contribute to the team. “It was hard to figure out my role,” Brett says. “But with advice from Coach Staley, I’ve found my place on the team.”

Now, armed with a video camera, Brett produces “Ballin’ with Brett,” a video blog providing Carolina fans with behind-the-scenes access to the team. The blogs document the women’s team from practice sessions and postgame interviews to study hall and travel.

With her basketball career on hold for now, it’s no mystery how she stays on top of her game. Brett lives by the motto: “Its not how you start the game that counts. It’s how you finish.”

Stone Stadium can be a battlefield: slide tackles, shoves, attacks and counterattacks. You might think that wouldn’t appeal to someone like Kevin Stam, who’s practiced nonviolence all his life. But Kevin’s a top competitor, a defender for the USC men’s soccer team, and doesn’t see it that way at all. Almost since he kicked his first soccer ball at age 4, Kevin Stam has loved the sport, especially the camaraderie of team play and the competitiveness of the game.

A junior, Stam found something else to love while walking on the campus’ historic Horseshoe his first year. “I was an undeclared major, but I knew what I wanted to do: international peace building,” he said. “One day I saw the College of Social Work sign on the Horseshoe and decided to take a couple of social work electives. I loved it, and declared it as a major.”

What Stam likes so much about social work is its parallels to peace building and conflict resolution. “The core values of social work integrate with peace building: integrity, social justice, the dignity and worth of people and so on,” he said.

Stam credits his family and upbringing in the Mennonite Church, renowned for its pacifist teachings, with fostering his interest in peace building and conflict resolution.

“My parents promoted the ideas of nonviolence, of community, of affection and accepting other people’s cultures,” he said. “The way they disciplined us, the way they talked to us, they set that foundation, and it seemed like the best way to live your life.”

“I was an undeclared major, but I knew what I wanted to do: international peace building. But USC doesn’t have that as a major,” he said. “One day I saw the College of Social Work sign on the Horseshoe and decided to take a couple of social work electives. I loved it, and declared it as a major.”

For Stam, there’s no disconnect between playing collegiate soccer — a virtual turf war — and being an advocate for peace building.

“Competition is paramount to sports,” he said. “I’m not trying to make your life worse by trying to win; there’s going to be a winner and a loser in every game. The goal is to keep my composure, to continue to try to play well even when my team is losing. When we’re playing well together as a team, that brings me peace.”

Stam, a member of the Honors College, has conducted undergraduate research on conflict resolution, surveying fellow social work undergrads about their views on conflict.

“What I wanted to find out is whether they view conflict constructively or destructively. It was alarming to me that 50 percent saw it as a negative thing,” he said. “Conflict is a good thing. We don’t want to avoid it, but we want to prevent victimization and other poor outcomes of conflict. The goal isn’t conflict prevention but transformation.”

After he graduates, Stam hopes to pursue a graduate program in peace building at Eastern Mennonite University. In the meantime, he’ll continue his role as the heart of the USC defense and pursuing his studies in social work.

Watch this video on YouTube.

A pirate’s haven, a mystery solved and the dream of playing in the big leagues were a natural part of Tommy Preston’s childhood. While being raised in the upstate of South Carolina, he was encouraged to read all kinds of books. But not every child is this lucky.

In fact, according the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 40 percent of South Carolina fourth-graders have below average reading levels.

So as an active member of USC’s student government, Tommy helped to establish Cocky’s Reading Express, a student-run initiative to combat illiteracy, especially for early readers. And leading the charge was Carolina’s beloved mascot, Cocky.

After our first trip, the request for visits came in rapidly,” recalled Tommy, now a local attorney. “At one point, I can remember having more than 100 invitations from schools, libraries, and literary events. That first year Cocky and USC student volunteers visited 20 schools around the state.”

Since those early days in 2005, the program has developed into a collaborative program of student government and the South Carolina Center for Children’s Book and Literacy (SCCBL), an outreach initiative of the School of Library and Information Science. Cocky and members of the USC community have visited every corner of the state, giving more than 50,000 books to kindergarteners, first- and second-graders.

At each event, the feathers fly as volunteers read to the kids. Of course, Cocky isn’t able to read aloud, but his energetic interpretations of the “’The Little Red Hen’ and other childhood favorites could win awards,” Tommy explains. ”In addition to receiving a free book, each child promises to read a book a day.”

Since those early days in 2005, the program has developed into a collaborative program of student government and the South Carolina Center for Children’s Book and Literacy (SCCBL), an outreach initiative of the School of Library and Information Science. Cocky and members of the USC community have visited every corner of the state,

The program has expanded to include information about nutrition and health as well as financial matters, explains Kim Jeffcoat, the executive director of SCCCBL. “We offer a full spectrum of programs that range from ones for elementary school, public libraries and special populations such as the School for the Deaf and Blind to ones that address special topics such as financial and nutrition literacy.”

The program has received support from Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, BP America, South Carolina Bank and Trust and others.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the support that Cocky’s Reading Express has received from organizations and individuals around the state,” added Tommy. “I truly believe that people are seeing the impact that our program is having on the state.”

And if just one child leaves a Cocky Reading Express event and is able to become a princess, or a pirate, after lights out, Tommy will sleep a little better.

After his great-grandmother’s death, Wilyem Cain lost his way. Her death hit him hard and his attitude changed. “I was devastated,” the USC student said. “I was angry and negative.” And worst of all, he knew his great-grandmother wouldn’t approve.

At the suggestion of a family member, the Winnsboro native got involved in the local Boys and Girls Club, participating in the after-school program. When a seven-year-old asked to be his friend, the USC student soon realized his life had a purpose and that the kids saw him as role model. “If I had a bad attitude,” he said, “the kids had a bad attitude.”

Determined not to make that mistake, Wilyem made a complete turnaround, returning to the values taught to him by his great-grandmother, like kindness, generosity and an open heart. “I wanted to treat them (the children) the same way she treated me,” he said.

As his involvement deepened, Wilyem became a club leader. He served as a junior staff member and a program aid. He shared his passion for cooking and sports with the children and taught them valuable life lessons, such as determination and cooperation.

As a student, Wilyem has remained active in the organization. The political science major volunteers in Columbia-area clubs, helping to develop programs for teens and recruiting other USC students to help out. He was tapped by the United Way to speak during fundraising efforts. And, most importantly, when he has time, Wilyem returns to Winnsboro “just to let them know that I’m looking out for them.”

What’s more, USC’s supportive environment is a good fit Wilyem, a first-generation college student. “I’m really enjoying it here,” he said.

Wilyem has his eyes set on law school and ultimately working for the Boys and Girls Clubs or the United Way. He wants to remain a part of those organizations so he can be there to catch other kids if they fall.

The dust, smell, poverty and, most of all, women and children touched Amy Woodell’s soul. She knew she had to do something — anything — to make life better in Zambia. So she returned to USC and founded Clothed in Hope to provide health education, financial coaching and sewing skills to women in one of Africa’s most depressed countries. When people ask why, she remembers their deep eyes and says, “Once I saw them, I became responsible.”

Amy Woodell – Clothed In Hope

Going to a blighted village in Zambia wasn’t part of Amy Woodell’s original plan.

Neither was returning there the next summer — or moving there after graduation. What began as a summer-long mission trip with Campus Crusade became something far larger: the impetus for a U-turn in Amy’s career plans.

“At first, I just wanted to check it off my bucket list,” she said about her first trip. But the dust, smell, poverty and, most of all, the women and children touched her soul, turning a single act of goodwill into a life’s calling. “It happened the second I stepped off the bus. I knew I wouldn’t remain the same.”

It was a pivotal moment.

The USC retailing major who once aspired to a fashion career in New York City has instead launched Clothed in Hope, a nonprofit organization to help Zambian widows and children to help themselves. The organization provides health education, financial coaching and sewing skills to women in the Ng’ombe compound in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital city.

“I believe that hope means much more than financial assistance,” Amy said. “By empowering widows through life-skills training, I want to play a role in renewing their confidence, impacting their culture and inspiring women across the globe.”

“I believe that hope means much more than financial assistance,” Amy said. “By empowering widows through life-skills training, I want to play a role in renewing their confidence, impacting their culture and inspiring women across the globe.”

Her second trip to Ng’ombe loudly affirmed her plans to move there. “It’s incredible that they’ve opened up as much as they have — my biggest fear was that I would go back and these women wouldn’t feel I could help them,” she said.

Spending last summer with the widows in Ng’ombe “was really cool from day one. I felt, this is where I’m supposed to be, this is what I’m supposed to be doing, and this is who I’m supposed to be doing it with, and I couldn’t have asked for more encouraging people to be around.”

Her senior year at USC, Amy concentrated on learning management strategies she’ll need as well as raising funds to pay for sewing machines and a house where some of the Zambian women can live together. In addition to learning a sewing skill, the women will support one another and learn about public health issues, including AIDS and water-borne illnesses.

With the blessing and support of her family and many others, Amy moved to Zambia this summer to do the work she was called to do.

You can follow Amy’s effort at clothedinhope.org.