IRVING, Texas – Jenica Baron, a student-athlete on the Tulane University bowling team, has been selected as the 2022 recipient of the American Athletic Conference Community Impact Award as chosen by members of the conference’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
 
The award recognizes a student-athlete who has made an impact in either the surrounding or campus community through service work. One student-athlete or group from each American member is eligible for nomination each academic year. The award includes a donation from The American in Baron’s name to the life skills program at Tulane.
 
A native of Barrington, Illinois, Baron is a co-founder of Her Drive, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports individuals who lack access to basic hygiene necessities. After operating a number of successful drives in the Chicago area, Her Drive has expanded to launch the Host Your Own Drive program, guiding volunteers in their own communities to host successful drives and support local shelters and support programs that are in need of hygiene items. Her Drive has hosted more than 100 drives nationwide and has collected more than 21,000 bras, 500,000 menstrual care products and 164,000 general hygiene items that have been donated to homeless shelters, women and children shelters, domestic violence support organizations, LGBTQ+ community centers, reservation communities and refugee support programs across the nation.  
 
Baron completed her junior year at Tulane in 2021-22 and has been a three-year member of the Green Wave’s bowling team. She is majoring in public health and psychology on a pre-medical track and plans to pursue a career as a physician.