Faimie Kingsley

Classroom

Kingsley is a marking major with a minor in communications and currently holds a 3.52 GPA as a senior. She has earned a spot on the Sun Belt Commissioner’s List each of her last two seasons by earning a 3.5 GPA or better. She has also made the Dean’s List four times for a GPA of 3.7 or better per quarter.

Character

Aside from the monstrous demeanor she portrays on the volleyball court for the Pioneers, and the subtle yet powerful tone of her voice, the Brooklyn, N.Y.-native is mature beyond her age and carries a sense of pride in her lack of dependence, a trait she gained early on in her young life. As a teen, Kingsley attended The Hotchkiss School after hearing of the opportunities that boarding schools provided for other teens like her. After convincing her mother and father, she registered and enrolled at the boarding school located in Lakeville, Conn., nearly two hours away from her home, completing all of the necessary paperwork on her own. This was all done at the tender age of 15. This mature personality has been a trademark of Kingsley ever since she was young, and it carries over into other aspects of her life. Kingsley’s focus has been in elevating herself to the peak of whatever she does, no matter the circumstance or predicament. This extreme drive and ambition arose from a childhood she vividly remembers, almost in regret, and wishes to not repeat with her own children. Kingsley is the daughter of two immigrants. Her father arrived from Nigeria over 30 years ago and her mother, a native of Haiti, emigrated not long after that. Both parents came with nothing and were forced to raise four children with minimal income and knowledge of the American ways of life. After being raised in a household where nothing was given and everything was earned, Kingsley learned the values of hard work early on and it has stuck with her ever since. Kingsley witnessed first-hand the trials and tribulations that a low-income household experienced on a daily-basis. Aside from her initial strict upbringing, these accounts resonated with her and nurtured this maturity that is seen today.

Community

Kingsley is an executive member of the University of Denver’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee and is also the Western Athletic Conference representative for SAAC. In her free time, Kingsley coaches at youth volleyball clinics and volunteers for the Parent and Alumni Admission Council at the Hotchkiss School. While there, she mentors students through the boarding school application process. Kingsley also volunteers for the Inspiring Young Minds organization, the Goodwill Industries of Denver and the University Park Elementary School.

Competition

Despite suffering from injuries during her three seasons at DU, Kingsley has still managed to earn All-Sun Belt Conference First Team Honors (2011), as well as three SBC Player of the Week honors. She was a finalist for the 2011 SBC Player of the Year, a 2011 Cobra Magazine’s All-West Region Team selection and the team’s Most Valuable Player in 2011. She is currently ranked third in DU’s history with a .308 career attack percentage, fourth in career blocks per set (1.19) and ninth with 278 career block assists. Last season she was ranked fourth in the NCAA with 1.58 blocks per set.