Famed Basketball Coach Susan Summons Wins Prestigious Babe Didrikson Zaharias Award

Miami, FL – Women’s sports pioneer and National Hall of Fame Inductee, Susan Summons, is set to add to her growing list of achievements after being selected for another prestigious award. The Miami Dade College professor and women’s basketball coach will be honored with the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Award on May 12, 2015 during the “Reach for the Stars Award Dinner,” slated for the Grand Slam Ballroom at Don Shula's Hotel and Resort in Miami Lakes, Florida.

The award is presented annually by the Sports Society and honors achievers who have made a difference for females in the world of athletics. It is a commemorative award in honor of women’s sporting legend, Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias, who was a women’s sports pioneer herself in the areas of track and field, basketball and golf.

"I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the 2015 Babe Didrikson Zaharias Award as presented by the Sports Society of South Florida, said Summons. The Sports Society has been providing scholarships to girls & women in sports for over a decade and I am proud to be recognized for my contributions in women sports and in the community, Summons added." 

More than 30 years ago, as a student at Lamar University, Summons had the distinction of becoming the first African American to be named a Babe Didrikson Zaharias Scholar Athlete. "I've come full circle with this honor from student athlete to coach and mentor. The Babe Didrikson Zaharias Award proves that for women athletes everywhere, if you believe it, you can achieve it!," Summons said. 

Susan Summons is currently the head coach of the women’s basketball team and has made 19 FCCAA State Championship appearances with Miami Dade college teams. She is also a teacher, recruiter, administrator and community relations advocate, locally and internationally and has been recognized as one of the most respected women’s basketball coaches and educators in the United States.

Her energy, enthusiasm and dedication has helped her to have a far-reaching, positive influence on Miami Dade College and in the wider community. Areas in which her presence is felt include the Adjunct Faculty/Social Science department and the Department of Biology Health and Wellness. She is also founder of a non-profit organization, known as Best of the Rest Stars Inc., which provides basketball training for both girls and boys.

Summons’ acceptance of the Sports Society’s Babe Didrikson Zaharias Award comes after a number of other awards and achievements that have been bestowed upon the former basketball pro, who also wears the hats of motivational speaker and radio personality. In 2013, she was listed among the 100 most Influential Sports Educators in America by the Institute for International Sport. She was also recognized as one of South Florida’s Top 50 Most Powerful African-American Professionals in Business the same year and became a Hall of Famer when she was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Program Chair of the Sports Society, Ms. Ann Marie Indorf, upon responding to Summons’ acceptance of the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Award, made it clear that the organization was proud of her achievements:

“On behalf of the members of the Sports Society and the thousands of female athletes who have benefited from your coaching efforts, we are proud of you,” said Indorf in a letter to Summons. “Thank you for accepting the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Award. We look forward to a great event to honor you and the outstanding middle, high school, and college student athletes of Miami Dade County private and public schools.”

The “Reach for the Stars Awards” Dinner is co-sponsored by the Sports Society and Delta Psi Kappa. It begins at 6 pm.

To interview Coach Susan Summons contact publicist Tandaleya Wilder at She Got Game Media (305) 520-9703.