LSU Women’s Basketball player Flau’jae Johnson has been given the inaugural Kay Yow Servant Leader of the Year award, an award to honor student-athletes who go above and beyond as leaders. Johnson received the award on the strength of her ability and willingness to give back to her community.

The Kay Yow Cancer Fund surprised Johnson with the award after practice. Johnson has been very public and outspoken in her support of the fund. Her service in her communities also made her a prime-candidate for the award.

“I feel like our world is filled with so much negativity,” Johnson said. “Stuff like this is contagious, and this is what we need, especially from young people in our community and our society. We need some positivity, and I’m excited to be the first Servant Leader of the Year, but I hope there’s more and more.”

The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting cancers that affect all women. Johnson has been open in talking about the effect cancer, specifically breast cancer, had on her family.

LSU Women’s Basketball Associate Head Coach Bob Starkey vowed to donate $1 to the organization for every fan that was in attendance when the Tigers faced Arkansas earlier in the season. Following the game, Johnson took to social media to announce that she would match the donation by Starkey to the fund.

In addition to receiving the award, Johnson and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund will donate $25,000 in cancer research for women across Louisiana.