![Jillian Green has overcome much adversity to be a success on the track and in the classroom for the Green Wave. [File photo by Ned Dishman]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Ftulanegreenwave.com%2Fimages%2F2004%2F4%2F26%2Fgreenaction040104.jpg&height=300&type=webp)
Tulane's Jillian Green Wins Wilma Rudolph Award
Apr 26, 2004 | Track & Field
April 26, 2004
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tulane University track and field standout Jillian Green has been honored as a recipient of the 2004 Wilma Rudolph Award. The award honors young men and women who have overcome great personal, academic, and/or emotional odds to achieve academic success while participating in intercollegiate sports. It is awarded by the National Association of Academic Advisors.
Green had an outstanding freshman season for the Green Wave in 2001, however, she was involved in a serious automobile accident in the fall of 2001. While doctors told her she may not walk again due to leg injuries, Green persevered. By the spring of 2002, she was back sprinting for the Green Wave, and soon thereafter she resumed jumping.
"Jill has never given up," Tulane track and field coach Heather Van Norman said. "It would have been easy for her to just stop trying, but she never did. It is amazing that she has regained the level she has. She is an inspiration."
This year, Green has nearly matched her pre-accident statistics. At the 2001 Conference USA Indoor Championships, she earned six points by finishing third in the triple jump. At this year's indoor championships, she earned eight points by registering a second-place effort in the long jump.
"I was surprised to win because it was a national award," Green said. "But I am starting to realize that what I did [coming back] was impressive. I prayed so hard and never doubted I would be back, so it never seemed like that big of a deal to me."
Meanwhile, following the injury, she applied herself in the classroom as well. She is scheduled to graduate this May with a degree in psychology.
"This is a well deserved award for Jillian," said Tulane assistant athletic director for academic services Tony Bennett, who nominated her for the honor. "She has been an inspiration to many people. She has had to overcome more in the last three years than most people will face during their entire lifetime. I don't know many people, not to mention student-athletes with the demands of academics and athletics, who could go through what Jillian has been through and continue to stay positive and succeed."
In addition to dealing with the physical injuries from the accident, just two months later, Green had to deal with the loss of her grandmother, with whom she was very close.
"I am learning that I do better with things against me," Green said. "Sometimes I wish I could do better when everything goes right. I had a lot of inspiration from my mom; when my grandmother passed away, my mom told me to make her mom proud and that has always kept me focused in school and in track."
Green will attend the Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Awards Luncheon on June 20th in Indianapolis.
