(October 27, 2025) Mena, Arkansas - After keeping the surprise quiet for a couple of weeks, UARM Softball's Kensley Allen was awarded the Alex Wilcox Memorial Scholarship on Monday afternoon in the Ouachita Center on the campus of UA Rich Mountain. The Alex Wilcox Memorial Scholarship is awarded from the Joy+Us Foundation that was founded by ESPN's Holly Rowe.
Kensley Allen attended Hilldale High School near Muskogee, Oklahoma and joined Bucks Softball this past Fall after signing her National Letter of Intent in November 2024. However, she was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma on January 27th, 2025 during her senior year of high school. Allen began chemotherapy before transitioning to radiation treatments in April, all while continuing to be a senior in high school that involved prom, graduation, and continuing to play softball. She learned after nearly 6 months of treatment that she was cancer free and made her way to UA Rich Mountain.
After being sent the application for the Alex Wilcox Memorial Scholarship from a friend, Kensley applied for the scholarship. According to ESPN's Holly Rowe, the foundation received the scholarship applications and a board reviewed the applications to select Kensley. In coincidence, Holly Rowe was in Arkansas on Monday speaking at the Little Rock Touchdown Club. Then, her son McKylin and her drove 2.5 hours to Mena to surprise Allen with the $10,000 scholarship. This is only the second awardee of the scholarship.
Per the Joy+Us Foundation Website, Holly Rowe has created this memorial scholarship fund in honor of Mississippi State softball player Alexis Ann Wilcox, with the permission of her parents Shaun and LeAnn Flowers Wilcox. Alex inspired Holly and the softball community with her courageous battle with ovarian cancer before her passing on June 25, 2018. This annual scholarship has been established to ensure that the legacy of Alex Wilcox will live on forever on the softball field.
Holly Rowe is a cancer survivor, as well. She was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma and continued her work on the sidelines for ESPN. Rowe has become a tireless advocate for cancer research and prevention. During her journey with cancer, she started keeping a daily joy journal to record the little moments that made her absolutely happy. Joy has kept her going through the most difficult times in life. In fact, in her 30 year career, Holly has only missed 1 day of work due to having COVID-19.
For more information regarding the Joy+US Foundation and about ESPN's Holly Rowe, visit joyus.foundation.
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