Sports

Mary Henderson’s family touring the Taylor Education Building with Dean of the College of Education Julian Vasquez Helig.

Academic documents from Mary Henderson’s time at UK.

added. “I knew I had big shoes to fill if I wanted to follow in her footsteps.”

When it came time for the twins to choose where to attend college, the choice was obvious. “Kentucky has always been home for me,” Taylor said. “My grandmother created a legacy for herself, and I was honored to be able to attend the same school she graduated from.”

Like their grandmother, Taylor and Tyler became official members of the Wildcat family. But they also wanted to forge their own paths.

Taylor pursued a degree from the College of Social Work, while Tyler studied sociology and philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences.

“I have always wanted to be an advocate for those who may feel voiceless by providing resources, through education or by just being there for support,” Taylor said. “My mother and grandmother were raised to always do what is right. They inspired me to not only be educated but also taught me how to be an advocate for my community.”

Throughout his time at UK, Tyler recalls having to draw on that inspiration, especially as communities and individuals face continued threats of discrimination, marginalization and violence.

“There is a lot of division within society. Growing up I was taught that we’re all neighbors - no matter our race or political affiliation. Unfortunately, the division within America over the last several years resembles division dating back to segregation. The same division my grandmother experienced,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that we humans cannot judge individuals based on character and purpose, but on the contrary, judge them based on race and stereotypes.”

Together, Taylor and Tyler decided they would use the knowledge they gained at UK to become catalysts for change.

“I knew if my grandmother could overcome oppression and racism amid being faced with injustice in 1950, that I could graduate in 2021,” Taylor said. “I just had to stick to the values that were instilled in me.”

And they did.

The pair crossed the commencement stage in May 2021. Equipped with UK degrees and the values their grandmother instilled, they vowed to fight against social injustice.

“My major provided me with key research and analysis regarding issues citizens face in many communities,” Tyler said. “It also provided me with a broad spectrum of ways to help fix the issues highlighted. This made me want to take action.”

Together they founded Resilience Charity Inc. The non-profit seeks to provide resources for low socioeconomic individuals and families within the Lexington community. Most recently, they delivered more than 150 meals to those in need.

“Our purpose is to stem the tide of poverty and lack of education, which will directly lead each family or individual to have a higher chance of reaching a sustainable life,” Taylor added.

Carrying on her legacy

We all want to be remembered — to feel that we’ve contributed something to the world.

In December 2021, Henderson passed away at the age of 94. In every sense of the word, she was an educator - a teacher of kindness, equality and resilience.

And sometimes it’s not what we leave behind that matters, but the values we instill in who we leave behind.

“I will carry on her legacy by being a voice for the voiceless. I will carry on her legacy by breaking down barriers that are still in place to negatively affect communities,” Tyler said. “I will carry on her legacy by letting every kid know they can be whatever they want to be as long as they try.”

“I know we say that no one is perfect but, in my eyes, she was the definition of perfect,” Taylor added. “I pray that my brother and I will leave behind a legacy that she is proud of.” ■

OSCAR TSHIEBWE MAKES HISTORY AS NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR HOWARD IS KENTUCKY’S FIRST WNBA DRAFT NO. 1 PICK

In more than 100 years as a program, the Kentucky men’s basketball team had never had a unanimous national player of the year until now. Forward Oscar Tshiebwe was awarded the Wooden Award in April to make a sweep of all of the major nationally recognized honors. The Wooden award was the sixth of the NCAA-recognized electors for national player of the year. In addition, Tshiebwe collected the top honor from The Sporting News, the

National Association of Basketball Coaches, the Associated

Press, the United States Basketball Writers Association and the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. Since 1977 when all six began being awarded in every season, 28 players have swept the honors. Tshiebwe is the second player coached by John Calipari to earn that distinction, also joining Marcus Camby of UMass in 1996.

In addition to becoming the first player in program history to achieve the feat, he is the first player in Southeastern Conference history to win all six awards in the same season.

Kentucky’s Anthony Davis is the only winner in program history.

He claimed the honor in 2012 after helping lead Kentucky to its eighth national championship in program history. Tshiebwe not only averaged a double-double but did so with a considerable margin — averaging a team-best 17.4 points and a nation-leading 15.1 rebounds per game. He is the first Division I player who averaged at least 15.0 points and at least 15.0 rebounds per game since

Drake’s Lewis Lloyd and Alcorn State’s

Larry Smith each did during the 19791980 season. Tshiebwe ended the season becoming only the second Wildcat since 1978-1979 to finish the season leading the team in points per game (17.4), rebounds per game (15.1), steals per game (1.8), blocks per game (1.6) and field-goal percentage with a minimum of 100 attempts (60.6%).

Davis was the other to achieve the feat. ■ 40

Rhyne Howard, the most decorated player in Kentucky women’s basketball history, added another milestone when she was selected first overall at the 2022 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream.

Howard made history at the draft, becoming the first Kentucky women’s basketball player ever to be selected first overall. The native of Cleveland, Tennessee, becomes the seventh player in program history to be selected in the WNBA Draft and the first since Evelyn Akhator and Makayla Epps were both selected in 2017. Akhator was previously the highest draft pick in school history at third overall. Howard, Akhator, A’dia Mathies and Victoria Dunlap are the only first-round picks in program history. Howard’s accomplishment makes Kentucky only the 16th program to produce a No. 1 WNBA Draft selection and one of only five schools in the league to produce such a player. Howard becomes the seventh player in Southeastern Conference history to be selected first overall, joining Dena Head (1997 - Tennessee), Chamique Holdsclaw (1999 - Tennessee), LaToya Thomas (2003 - Mississippi State), Seimone Augustus (2006 - LSU), Candace Parker (2008 - Tennessee) and Aja Wilson (2018 - South Carolina). Howard’s fulfilled dream of being a No. 1 pick bookends a historic collegiate career. The guard became the only player in program history to receive multiple first-team All-America honors from multiple organizations along with being the only UK WBB player to earn four first-team All-SEC honors. This season alone, Howard earned first-team All-America honors from the Senior CLASS Award, Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, The Associated Press, Wooden Award and United States Basketball Writers Association. Howard has been a finalist for nearly every major national player of the year award each of the last three seasons. ■