GRANVILLE, OH – Denison senior Jess Zittel (Eden, NY/Eden) has been named one of 62 student-athletes across NCAA Divisions I, II, and III to receive the 2025–26 Kay Yow Award, recognizing her outstanding commitment to service, leadership, and community engagement.
 
The Kay Yow Award is presented annually to women’s basketball student-athletes from all three NCAA divisions who demonstrate a selfless dedication to serving others both on and off the court. Established in 2024, the award honors those who embody Coach Yow’s enduring legacy of compassion, humility, and purpose-driven leadership.
 
A senior guard for the Big Red, Zittel becomes the first Denison student-athlete to earn this distinction. During her career, she has twice been recognized as a Top 50 Scholar-Athlete and was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma during the 2024-25 academic year.
 
“I am so grateful to be recognized among so many inspiring leaders, and to carry forward Coach Yow’s incredible legacy,” Zittel said. “Wearing the Servant Leader patch is a reminder that true leadership means uplifting others and fighting for causes greater than yourself.”
 
Zittel credited her family, teammates, coaches, and professors for their support and inspiration throughout her journey. “I am especially grateful to have had the role model of my coach, who has battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma with extraordinary courage,” she added. “Coach Mo’s strength and love for our team—despite facing one of the hardest battles of her life—has been one of the most powerful examples of what it means to serve, to lead, and to inspire hope.”
 
Denison head coach Maureen Hirt praised Zittel for her leadership both on the court and within the community. “We are incredibly proud to have Jess represent Denison women’s basketball on the national stage,” Hirt said. “From her dedicated research on cancer care in America to the way she supports and celebrates her teammates, Jess is a servant leader to her core.”