Softball player receives award from White Sox

Roland Hemond (from left), Karissa Frazier and White Sox Manager Rick Renteria (Photo: Ron Vesley)

UIC softball’s Karissa Frazier escaped the cold recently with a trip to Arizona, where the Chicago White Sox presented her with the Roland Hemond Award. Frazier received the award for her outstanding efforts with Gift of Life.

Frazier, a redshirt junior in public health, spent a day at the White Sox Spring Training home, Camelback Ranch. She was given a personalized jersey, treated to a tour of the facilities and more.

“It was such an incredible experience,” Frazier said. “I was blown away by the entire Chicago White Sox organization’s hospitality, class and kindness. I got to meet some incredible people including the legendary Roland Hemond himself, which was a huge honor.”

Frazier also met White Sox manager Rick Renteria and threw out the first pitch before sitting back to enjoy the preseason game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Mike “Kash” Kashirsky caught my first pitch and showed me true, genuine kindness throughout the weekend,” she said.

The Chicago White Sox created the Roland Hemond Award to honor those who are dedicated to bettering the lives of those around them.

Frazier earns the distinction for her dedicated involvement with Gift of Life, a public bone marrow and blood stem cell registry. Since becoming a campus ambassador in September 2016, the pitcher has swabbed more than 1,000 individuals for the registry and has gone to great lengths to facilitate drives and raise awareness.