Mjracle is the second Cal Bear to be named a Kay Yow Servant Leader.
10/31/2026 10:40 AM | Women's Basketball
Sheppard Recognized For Positive Community Impact
Senior Mjracle Sheppard of the California women's basketball team has been named a Kay Yow Servant Leader. Named after the late Coach Yow who inspired others to get involved in the fight against cancer during her 22-year battle with breast cancer, the award honors student-athletes who exemplify the values of leadership, selflessness and service in the fight against all cancers affecting women.
Recipients of the award, according to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, are those that "best embody the characteristics of Coach Yow – people with a servant's spirit and a commitment to selfless leadership both on and off the court and athletic field."
Earlier this year, Sheppard took the initiative to lead her own community impact project this summer. The event, Hearts & Paddles, was a community pickleball tournament, block party, and fundraiser. She led the idea for this event to rally support for Kawasaki Kids Foundation — an organization that provides awareness, support, and resources to families with children who have Kawasaki disease, something she dealt with and overcame as a young infant.
The event, hosted in conjunction with Town Nights at Bushrod Park in Oakland, featured a pickleball tournament with 24 local teams across advanced, novice, and beginner categories and raised over $3000 for the Kawasaki Kids Foundation.
This year, she also enrolled in a Critical Service Learning course for credit, where she will be volunteering regularly through the semester in an Oakland Middle School, supporting SPED students and learning more about her community.
"Mjracle not only understands the platform she has but also puts it into action, using it to make an impact," Cameron Institute Director, Community Engagement and Partnerships Taylor Perez said. "Mjracle goes above and beyond by being open and involved in every aspect of service and community connection. She raises her hand and says yes to the community. Being a student-athlete at Cal can be rigorous and challenging. She makes time to give back and connect with her community beyond campus and understands that she is part of a larger social fabric beyond the court."
As a recipient of the award, Suárez will wear a special patch on her jersey during the remainder of the 2026-27 season.
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For further coverage of Cal women's basketball, follow the Bears on Twitter/X (@CalWBBall), Instagram (@CalWBBball) and Facebook (/CalWBBall/).
Recipients of the award, according to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, are those that "best embody the characteristics of Coach Yow – people with a servant's spirit and a commitment to selfless leadership both on and off the court and athletic field."
Earlier this year, Sheppard took the initiative to lead her own community impact project this summer. The event, Hearts & Paddles, was a community pickleball tournament, block party, and fundraiser. She led the idea for this event to rally support for Kawasaki Kids Foundation — an organization that provides awareness, support, and resources to families with children who have Kawasaki disease, something she dealt with and overcame as a young infant.
The event, hosted in conjunction with Town Nights at Bushrod Park in Oakland, featured a pickleball tournament with 24 local teams across advanced, novice, and beginner categories and raised over $3000 for the Kawasaki Kids Foundation.
This year, she also enrolled in a Critical Service Learning course for credit, where she will be volunteering regularly through the semester in an Oakland Middle School, supporting SPED students and learning more about her community.
"Mjracle not only understands the platform she has but also puts it into action, using it to make an impact," Cameron Institute Director, Community Engagement and Partnerships Taylor Perez said. "Mjracle goes above and beyond by being open and involved in every aspect of service and community connection. She raises her hand and says yes to the community. Being a student-athlete at Cal can be rigorous and challenging. She makes time to give back and connect with her community beyond campus and understands that she is part of a larger social fabric beyond the court."
As a recipient of the award, Suárez will wear a special patch on her jersey during the remainder of the 2026-27 season.
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal women's basketball, follow the Bears on Twitter/X (@CalWBBall), Instagram (@CalWBBball) and Facebook (/CalWBBall/).
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