Angie Bjorklund

Classroom

Bjorklund is a three-time SEC Academic honor roll selection and was the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women’s basketball in 2009-10. Additionally, she was one of five members of the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first team. A psychology major, Bjorklund has a 3.74 GPA heading into her senior season and has an interest in sports ministry when her playing career ends. “Angie leads by example,” Tennessee academic advisor Kerry Howland said. “As outstanding as her basketball skills are, she is truly just as impressive as a student, and consistently gives her all to achieving academic success.”

Character

Assistant athletics director for strength and conditioning Heather Mason calls Bjorklund “one of my greatest success stories” for her drastic improvement in the Lady Vol strength and conditioning program since her freshman season. Coach Pat Summitt calls Bjorklund a “gym rat” and “a great role model for this program.” Summitt says, “Angie has provided tremendous leadership. As a teammate, she reaches out to every one of her peers and encourages them. Angie is one of the most well-rounded college students that we’ve had here at Tennessee.” After Tennessee graduated five players to the professional ranks following the 2007-08 season, Bjorklund was thrust into a leadership role as a sophomore and responded by earning second team all-conference honors. She battled back from back injuries that forced her to miss the opening portion of the 2008-09 season to lead Tennessee in three-point shooting (40.8 percent) and average 12.3 points per game. Originally known for her shooting and scoring ability, Bjorklund has become one of Tennessee’s most reliable perimeter defenders and playmakers, as well as a leader both by example and as a voice of encouragement for her teammates.

Community

Bjorklund’s service in the community is extensive. Over the past three years she has assisted with various donor “Thank-a-Thon” efforts, as well as helping build houses for Habitat for Humanity. She volunteered with children’s clubs at Tennessee Athletics’ “April Play Day.” She also helped organized and set up UT Athletics’ “Teams for Toys” Christmas toy drive for underprivileged children in the Knoxville community. Other service efforts include multiple visits to East Tennessee children’s hospitals. Bjorklund also is very active in speaking at various Fellowship of Christian Athlete meetings and other Christian organizations. She has worked at the Hoops for Hope basketball tournament to raise money and awareness for Down syndrome, as well. One of the biggest service efforts of her career occurred this past May, when she took a mission trip to Honduras for eight days. There, she visited a number of villages, children’s hospitals, and orphanages. She brought toys, stuffed animals and food to the residents of the villages. She raised the money herself for the trip through donations.

Competition

Bjorklund will go down in the Tennessee annals as one of the most decorated Lady Vols of all time. After her junior season she was selected as an Associated Press honorable-mention All-American as well as a member of the All-SEC first team. Bjorklund led Tennessee in scoring (13.9 ppg), led the conference in three-point percentage (42.7 percent) and enters her senior season just 34 three-pointers away from setting a new Tennessee mark. She made 34 starts in 2009-10, leading Tennessee to a 32-3 record, the SEC regular season and tournament championships and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.