Athlete In A “League of Her Own” When It Comes to Service

Janelle Hume Wins Highest Award From Association of Christian College Athletics

WINNIPEG, Man. — When it comes to combining athletics, academics and helping others, Janelle Hume of CMU is in a “league of her own.”

Janelle Hume, right, with her friend and teammate Rachel Parsons

That’s what her basketball coach, Keith Michaelson, says of the recipient of the David Terry Award from the Association of Christian Colleges Athletics (ACCA).

The Award, the highest honour given to an athlete by the ACCA, recognizes success on the court, along with academic achievement and service.

“Everything she does she does to the best of her ability,” says Michaelson. “She is totally focused on the court, in class and helping others. No matter how busy she is, if a player on the team has a need of any kind—academically, emotionally or spiritually—she takes the time to help.”

In addition to studies and sports, Hume volunteers each week teaching inner city children with Living Bible Explorers; serves as a member of the worship team at Winnipeg's Westwood Community Church; visits schools in Manitoba and Saskatchewan to promote missions on behalf of Mennonite Brethren Mission/Service International; and leads a bi-weekly fellowship group at the university. She also led a short-term mission team to Mexico last summer, and spent 2005 in Germany doing mission work.

“God’s put a call for missions and serving others on my life,” she says of her interest and involvement in missions and service. “He’s just wired me that way.”

Of her studies and involvement in athletics at CMU, Hume says “I really enjoy playing sports here. I can integrate a high level of playing basketball with my post-secondary studies. It’s probably the best place to go to play post-secondary ball, get a great education and as make good friends. It’s the best combination of them all.”

She also appreciates that coaches emphasize a balanced approach to sports and life. “They constantly remind us of our priorities—God, family, school, sports,” she says.

CMU has also been a great place to grow in faith, she notes. “Faith is a really important part of my life. I’m really blessed to go to a school where I can live that out, and be supported in it by the faculty and other students.”

She also credits her teammates for helping her be successful on the court, and for the camaraderie they provide off it. “I’ve never played on a basketball team that’s been so close and so tight knit together,” she says. “It’s really been great.”

In addition to the David Terry Award, Hume was also named to the ACCA Academic All-American team and received the CMU Trailblazer Award—the highest recognition given to a CMU athlete—for outstanding team leadership on and off the court. She was also the Rookie of the Year on the women’s soccer team.

Now in her second year of studies at CMU, Hume plans to return next year to get her B.A. and then go on to further studies to become a teacher.

“To know Janelle is to know what faith and service is all about,” says Michaelson. “She is just so giving.”

Posted March 27, 2008.