The V Foundation Comeback Award
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Jamie Carey Named V Foundation Comeback Award Recipient
The V Foundation for Cancer Research has named University of Texas junior guard Jamie Carey as the recipient of the 2004 V Foundation Comeback Award.. Annually awarded by The V Foundation in collaboration with ESPN, the Comeback Award is presented to a collegiate-level basketball student-athlete who embodies the spirit and courage represented by the late Jim Valvano and his memorable and motivating challenge delivered in his acceptance speech at the 1993 ESPY Awards – “Don’t Give Up. . .Don’t Ever Give Up!”® “It is my distinct pleasure to welcome Jamie Carey as the 2004 Comeback Award recipient,” said Foundation CEO Nick Valvano. “She embodies the spirit of this award and is a consummate student-athlete. Jamie excels both on the court as well as in the classroom. She faced her physical challenge, believed in herself, fought for her eligibility both athletically and academically, and persevered. She never gave up,” Valvano said. Texas head coach Jody Conradt agreed with Valvano’s assessment. “There is no one more deserving to be the recipient of the Jimmy V Comeback Award,” said Conradt. “Jamie lives each day to its fullest and she possesses all of the qualities exemplified by Jim Valvano. Jamie is passionate, intelligent and driven, and her personal philosophy to ‘live every moment as best you can’ has, in part, been shaped by the experiences and the losses she has faced in the past few years.” At Stanford University, Carey was named Freshman All-American and was the Pac-10 Conference Freshman of the Year. She missed two seasons following post-concussive symptoms which forced her to leave competitive play at Stanford and retire with a NCAA medical hardship in November of her sophomore year. A month later, her family was struck by great personal tragedy with the suicide death of her older brother Josh. The post-concussion symptoms plagued Carey, affecting her concentration, her academic studies and memory, forcing her to switch her major from an interdisciplinary study of philosophy and computer science to a theory-based major (sociology/social work), due to frequent memory lapses. Unable to receive medical clearance to continue play at Stanford, Carey pursued her options with independent medical specialists across the country. Following extensive medical testing, and with the assistance of Stanford working together with Texas, she regained her medical clearance from the NCAA. Transferring to Texas prior to her junior year (02-03), she led the Longhorns to the 2003 NCAA Final Four, as well as this season’s 30-5 record and a trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. The Longhorns lost to LSU in the Regional Semi-Final. Due to Carey’s unique medical history, she successfully petitioned the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility. She completed her undergraduate studies in December, is now pursuing graduate studies, and is an Academic All-America candidate. She is the daughter of Mike and Debbie Carey of Thornton, Colorado (Horizon High School). “Jamie is intense, fearless, and determined. She sets goals and sets them high,” Valvano said. “These words also described my brother Jim. We’re extremely honored for Jamie to receive this award that represents all of the qualities that Jim possessed and embodies his ‘Never Give Up’ spirit. Her effort, enthusiasm and strong passion for the game, her intellect, as well as her goal to become a college basketball coach – Jim loved young people and Jim would have loved Jamie Carey,” Valvano concluded. More than 50 student-athletes were nominated by their university athletics departments. A sub-committee of The V Foundation Board of Directors selected Carey from 14 finalists, all of whom had compelling come-back stories of their own. “To receive this award from The V Foundation is a great honor and very humbling. I want to thank The V Foundation and ESPN,” said Carey. “There are so many people with so many moving stories out there and I consider it an honor to be considered among this group of ‘fighters’. “The award is presented in honor and in the name of an amazing individual who persevered and whose messages on living life to its fullest are so important. Over the last few years I’ve really learned the importance of family, of being passionate, of giving every day your best,” she added. “I also want to especially thank The University of Texas, our basketball coaching staff and my teammates. This Comeback Award is also a tribute to them. The University of Texas took a chance on me and allowed me to once again play the game I love. It’s true that the whole is stronger than its parts and without others around me to support me and help me, I wouldn’t have the successes which have come my way,” Carey concluded. “Every day I just feel privileged to have the opportunity to coach an individual like Jamie,” concluded Conradt. “I’m very glad that she’s had the opportunity to tell her story and pleased she’s getting the individual recognition she deserves.” Comeback Award Notes: Nick Valvano will present the 2004 V Foundation Comeback Award trophy to Carey at the 30th Annual University of Texas Women’s Student-Athlete Awards Presentation banquet in Austin on April 27th. Past V Foundation Comeback Award recipients are Arizona State’s Justin Allen (2003), Western Michigan’s Kristin Koetsier (2002) and Purdue’s Katie Douglas (2001). The V Foundation Comeback Award is presented annually in memory of Jim Valvano, late basketball coach and ESPN commentator, whose personal battle with cancer inspired the creation of The V Foundation. In his memorable speech at ESPN’s inaugural ESPY Awards announcing the creation of The V Foundation, Valvano’s “Don’t Give Up. . .Don’t Ever Give Up!”® motto created a legacy from which the Comeback Award has been created. The V Foundation Comeback Award, established in 2001, is open to men and women collegiate basketball student-athletes in all university and collegiate levels. The award is open to individual team members, or teams. The nominee’s challenge may not be as obvious as a come-from-behind win. It may be more reflective on being triumphant in the face of true adversity – in health, in life, or moral dilemma.
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