Claire Wayne Tapped as CCAA Impact Award Winner
With a demonstrated drive toward outstanding citizenship, Chico State softball student-athlete Claire Wayne has been named the 2018-19 CCAA Impact Award recipient.
The Impact Award recognizes a single CCAA student-athlete who has exemplified leadership through participation in community service and engagement activities while maintaining dedication to academics and athletics. Selections are made by the Conference’s 13 Student Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC).
Wayne, a recent Wildcat graduate who hails from Norco, was active in the Chico community at large both with her softball teammates and in individual participation on campus, in area schools and through a variety of engagement and involvement activities. Wayne is the second Chico State athlete to earn the award, now in its fourth year.
"We all have student-athletes that cross our paths that make us better people and leaders Claire Wayne is one of those students,” reflected Chico State Director of Athletics Anita Barker. “The legacy she will leave at Chico State goes far beyond the softball field. During her time at Chico, she embraced her responsibility as a student, an athlete, a leader and a role model. Her mark on the Chico State program is indelible, and this award is simply evidence that her reach went far beyond our campus.”
This academic year, Wayne served as the Chico State SAAC co-president, completing her fourth year serving on the committee. Through SAAC and in conjunction with her softball team, she engaged in successful canned food drives and assisted in the donation of over 1,000 items to support the efforts of Chico State’s Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry. The team also volunteered for World Food Kitchen during the aftermath of the devastating Camp Fires that ravaged the area in November.
Outside of her work alongside her teammates, Wayne has spent time volunteering with area youth in the classroom at Rosedale Elementary, as a Wildcat Kids Club volunteer, providing support and guidance at the Team Autism Clinic, and assisting with Chico State’s Adapted Physical Education Sports Day. Adapted Physical Education Sports Day is an opportunity for individuals with low-incidence disabilities which include deaf, blind and orthopedic disabilities, to come together and participate in sport competitions.
Wayne also served as a leader for the Student-Athlete Engagement Group that advocated for Chico State athletics during an advisory referendum process in the spring of 2018, mobilizing her peers and handling difficult conversations with empathy and poise.
An aspiring educator, Wayne has served as a representative to the National Student Speech, Hearing and Language Association since 2016. The NSSLHA inspires, empowers and supports pre-professionals studying communication sciences and disorders with over 12,000 members nationwide.
“I’m very proud of the legacy Claire has left behind, both on and off the field,” noted Chico State softball coach Angel Shamblin. “I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach her, and I know Claire will excel in all her future endeavors.”
Along with her CCAA Impact Award, Wayne was honored as the 2018-19 Chico State Female Scholar Athlete of the Year as well as earning the Outstanding Student Leader Award, which is presented to the individual who represents significant student leadership and has made a substantial contribution to the enrichment of student life at Chico State.
In order to be considered for the CCAA Impact Award, individuals must be a current student-athlete in good standing, using a season of competition for the year of nomination. Candidates must participate in community service and engagement activities as a member of their team as well as outside of team activities, and demonstrate activities that exemplify leadership.
CCAA Impact Award Winners
2015-16: Lindsey Armstrong, Cal State Dominguez Hills (women’s soccer)
2016-17: Haley Kroll, Chico State (cross country/track & field)
2017-18: Andrew Dirks, UC San Diego (track & field)
2018-19: Claire Wayne, Chico State (softball)