EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern senior Alex Cohen (Bayside, Wis./Nicolet) has been nominated for the 2015 Allstate Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Good Works Team ®, it was announced Wednesday.
Cohen has been tirelessly active in raising awareness and funds for autism since arriving on campus in 2011. The veteran Wildcat has been an energetic member of the student organization, Autism Speaks U, since her freshman year. The Bayside, Wis., native joined the organization because of her older brother, Aaron. Aaron Cohen was diagnosed when he was three years old and Alex has always had a passion for making a difference in his life, as well as the lives of all those on the spectrum.
After serving as Autism Speaks U's president for two years, Cohen has moved into the role of vice president so that she can focus her attention on the new initiative she envisioned, NU Goes Blue. Cohen served as the event chair for the special night, which was held on Oct. 2. NU Goes Blue raised funds and autism awareness.
"Most of the events we've coordinated through Autism Speaks U have been geared specifically toward Northwestern students," said Cohen. "I really wanted to create something that the surrounding community could be involved in as well. When I thought of the idea for NU Goes Blue, one of my main goals was raise autism awareness beyond Northwestern's campus and into the Evanston and Chicagoland communities. We brought everyone together for a fun evening that supported a great cause"
Northwestern will host its sixth annual Autism Awareness Game this Sunday, Dec. 7 when the Loyola Ramblers visit Welsh-Ryan Arena at 2 p.m. The game features a ceremonial tip-off with the Chicagoland Chapter of Autism Speaks, face painting, postgame autographs, an available quiet room and more. Cohen has been instrumental in planning and promoting the annual event.
In addition to supporting autism awareness and funding, Cohen has participated in numerous other community service events during her time at Northwestern. From visiting patients at Lurie's Children's Hospital, to painting Evanston fire hydrants purple with the Youth Outreach Umbrella, to serving as a mentor at a local middle school, her selfless devotion to making her world a better place to live is inspiring.
Now in its third season, the Allstate Good Works Team helps spotlight the off-the-court good works and service to others that often go unnoticed and unrewarded. As full-time student-athletes, nominees choose to dedicate a large portion of their limited free time to improving the lives of those around them.
"The Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® is a prominent award that honors those student-athletes who serve the community," said Danielle Donehew, executive director of the WBCA. "We celebrate the commitment these 93 nominees have made to their respective communities and we are grateful to Allstate for recognizing these individuals for their exceptional efforts."
From the 93 WBCA nominees, a distinguished voting panel will select two 10-member teams comprised of five student-athletes from the NCAA® Division I level and five student-athletes from NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA. The final roster will be unveiled in February. Members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® will be recognized during the 2015 WBCA Convention and at the 2015 NCAA Women's Final Four in Tampa Bay, and will also participate in a local community project. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the WBCA, NABC and NCAA.
"The accomplishments of student-athletes extend far beyond successes achieved on the court, and Allstate is proud to recognize this exceptional group of young women and men for the positive impact they are making in their communities," said Pam Hollander, vice president of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company. "Their stories of powerful and selfless acts, shared by SIDs and coaches across the nation, represent the best of collegiate student-athletes and serve as an inspiration to us all."
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