Illinois State's volleyball team has won three consecutive Missouri Valley Conference championships. Kendee Hilliard has played for the Redbirds all three of those seasons, but that likely won't be Hilliard's biggest impact on the ISU campus.
The Texas native wants to help bring social change to athletics and to the ISU community. Hilliard is learning change takes time, something she doesn't like to waste. She graduated high school in three and a half years. She got her undergrad degree at ISU in less than three years and is now pursuing a masters degree in sports management.
Hilliard is serving president of the ISU Student Athlete Advisory Council this year. Hilliard said the council has focused on mental health and ways athletes can lead and become more engaged in the world around them, as well prepare them for life after sports.
Hilliard said they are seeing results.
“We are bringing in more people who are willing to listen and make changes faster and I believe that has been a change for good,” Hilliard said. “We are definitely changing the tide and more people are more inclined to speak up as well,” Hilliard said.
Hilliard also serves on Redbirds for Change, the student athlete group that's looking to improve advocacy for Black athletes on campus.
“I feel like we have created a more loving culture that way, because if I know someone else is going to support me, I am more likely to support them as well,” Hilliard said.
Hilliard said she appreciates her coach, Leah Johnson, reaching out to her during the racial unrest after George Floyd's murder to have many lengthy conversations about racial justice.
“There’s been those horror stories about (athletes) and their coaches not supporting them and I thought that was the scariest thing,” Hilliard said. “So when my coach approached me (saying) this is something we need to talk about within the athletic community, I was all for it.”
Hilliard said the conversation has gone beyond the volleyball team to include other student athletes, coaches and athletics administration. Hilliard added it’s important for student athletes to step out of their comfort zone and get involved in some project or cause outside of their sport.
“It provided me a lot of opportunities to expand by brand, and expanded the opportunities… for my career moving forward,” Hilliard said.
Hilliard maintained a 3.73 grade point average during her undergraduate career. She has also been involved in the Gamma Rho chapter of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, the Black Student Union, Athletes in Action and the ISU Recreation and Park Administration’s Advisory Council. She has also volunteered with Eastview Christian Church in Normal, Food For Families, the Taste of Redbirds event and the Play4Kay raffle.
