Mesa King Honored with Montana Athletes in Service Award

Story by Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information

Montana Western Senior Mesa King, a Forward on the Women’s Basketball team, has been named a 2022 Montana Athletes in Service award winner. This is the second time that King has earned this award during her collegiate career.

Mesa, a senior majoring in Physical Education and Elementary Education, has been involved as a volunteer for a fifth and sixth grade youth travel basketball team in Dillon as a coach and is the president of the UMW Association of Student-Athletes (ASA). Mesa is also currently a student teacher at Parkview Elementary School in Dillon and serves as the Frontier Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Social Media Coordinator.

King has also helped to coordinate events such as the Bulldog statue campaign, the COVID Meal Train during the 2020-21 school years, the annual ASA sponsored Canned Food Drive, and the upcoming Holidays with the Bulldogs event. She has also been a part of planning the annual end of the year athlete banquet, volunteered in elementary & middle schools during the 2019 National Championship season, and volunteers regularly at on campus athletic events.

Along with other student-athletes from Montana colleges and universities, King was honored during the 121st Brawl of the Wild game in Bozeman, Mont. on November 19 for her dedication to serving those in her community.

“I am honored to be recognized for this award for the second time in my athletic career. As a member of the small community of Dillon and the Montana Western family, we pride ourselves in holding each other to high standards to achieve a common goal. I have genuinely enjoyed giving back to the community that has truly supported me during my six years as a Bulldog.” Mesa King said.