June 17, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Women's tennis player Robyn Jones, a native of Baton Rouge, La., was honored as one of 12 student-athletes selected by Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky as C-USA Spirit of Service recipients for the spring of 2009. The C-USA Spirit of Service award is designed to recognize the community service efforts of one student-athletes from each of Conference USA's 12 member institutions. The recipients of the award are each individuals who contributed significantly in their community and also are in good academic standing and participate in their elected sport.

Jones, who began her freshman season at the University of Memphis in the fall of 2008, has made a noticeable impact on the Memphis tennis program, as well as the Memphis community, as well as her home community of Baton Rouge, La. Jones has volunteered her time reading to underprivileged children at the local community ceneter in Memphis. She has also spent time volunteering at the Jimmy Williams Summer Camp for underprivileged children and attended a Valentine's Day Dance at a Memphis retirement home. Jones also participated in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee's canned food drive and often volunteers her time working at the food bank on the weekend. An outstanding student in the classroom, Jones currently holds a 4.0 GPA after completing her first season at Memphis. The tennis netter saw action in the Memphis line-up before missing half of the season due to injury.

Jones joins East Carolina's Charina Sumner, Houston's David Murphy, Marshall's Melanie Stoehr, Rice's Jimmy Comerota, SMU's Natalia Bubien, Southern Miss' Paul Apyan, Tulane's Nicolette Taku, Caitlin Duffy of Tulsa, UAB's James Oliver, Breanne Javier of UCF and UTEP's Stacie Townsend as the spring honorees for the C-USA Spirit of Service award. Kate Murphy of the women's soccer program received the honor for Memphis during the fall season.