WILLIAMSBURG — Former Tribe volleyball star Amy Schwem was recognized by the ESPYs Sports Humanitarian Awards as a regional recipient of the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award, ESPN announced earlier this week.
The Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award celebrates and honors young people who use the power of sport as a catalyst for change and make a positive impact on society. There are three Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award honorees and 20 regional recipients.
Schwem started The Autoimmune Athlete, a platform that functions as a support system for athletes who are battling an autoimmune disease. The Chicago-area native was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in 2021, a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy tissue. The disease causes a variety of complications, including joint and muscle pain, fatigue, headaches, skin and mouth rashes or ulcers, nausea, and recurring fever. The organization provides education and camaraderie for athletes dealing with autoimmune disease.
“I am exceptionally honored just to have been considered for this award, let alone receive it. When you enter any sort of advocacy work, you never expect any recognition. So when recognition comes, it truly is a chance to shine some light on whatever change you are striving to make. I’m so thankful to have been selected for this award and hope that it will guide others toward The Hidden Opponent and The Autoimmune Athlete who are in need of a community of support,” Schwem said.
Schwem is also on the board of directors for The Hidden Opponent, a nonprofit organization that promotes mental health awareness, education, and support for athletes, and has developed her own merchandise line for The Autoimmune Athlete. She graduated from William & Mary in the spring with a Bachelor of Science in psychology and kinesiology.
On the court, Schwem racked up 2,124 assists as the team’s setter, ranking second-most in the current scoring era (since 2008). She led the Tribe in helpers all four years of her career and is one of seven players to reach the 2,000-assist plateau. She also ranks top-five in career service aces (67) and top-10 in digs (744).
The 11th annual Sports Humanitarian Awards will celebrate and honor athletes, teams, leagues and members of the sports industry who use the power of sport to make a positive impact on society. This year’s Sports Humanitarian Awards returns Tuesday, July 15, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood, California, the evening before the ESPYS, as part of ESPYS Week.
The Awards will be featured in ESPN studio programming and during The 2025 ESPYS, airing live on Wednesday, July 16, at 8 p.m. on ABC from The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.