Dazmyne Gambrell – or “Do it All Dazzy” – is a ubiquitous presence around the school. She plays basketball, is the president of the Black Student Union, and manages the gelato shop that she’s been working at for two years. Dazzy also loves hanging out with her friends, going to various sports events, and is very proud to be a Cougar, which she shows through her school spirit.
Dazzy has been playing basketball since the third grade – for ten years. She has been a starter on almost every team she has been on, except for her sophomore and junior years due to her double transfer from Sabino, and then to Catalina Foothills. Fortunately, she got her playing restrictions appealed and was able to play half of her junior year on varsity at Sahuaro. “I love basketball so much, it’s my escape, to be honest.” Dazzy has given some thought to playing at the collegiate level but after a major setback in the form of a torn ACL, she has postponed her dream.
Last year on March 19, Dazzy was at a club basketball practice. While she was playing defense, she accidentally cut too hard and tore her ACL. On April 29 she underwent surgery for the injury. Being the tenacious person she is, Dazzy was back in the game 6 months post-op having only missed one game of her senior year. Even with the setback of the injury, Dazzy is still open to the idea of playing at the next level, and will definitely take the chance if the opportunity presents itself, but is wary of a second injury.
Dazzy is the president of the Black Student Union and is an active advocate for students of color. She has also taken it upon herself to teach BSU members a percussive dance called step, which originated in Africa and is now tightly woven in African American communities, especially HBCUs, sororities, and fraternities. When asked about why she became president she said, “I feel very strongly about the African American community, I want to say definitely going to Sabino and then Catalina Foothills has made me realize that African American history or even like just this sense of community isn’t as strong in other schools as it is here. And after being a member last year and just seeing how close everybody was, it made me want to be the president. So I knew we could all do things and step performances and bond and stuff like that.” Dazzy takes much pride in being African American even though she faces the struggles of hurtful stereotypes or negative opinions based on her race. “I feel like it’s just something that comes with being of color, and it’s something the majority of us face, I do hope that change comes, and if I can do anything to make a difference, I will.”
Dazzy’s biggest supporter is her mother. After her parents separated when she was thirteen, Dazzy became extremely close to her mom. Her mom has been there for her through everything – her challenges at her old schools, the transfer process, and she was constantly there for Dazzy before the ACL surgery and for recovery. “My mom is my rock, my best friend, and I love her to death.”
Dazzy is still close with her father and reveals that she gets her joking personality from him. She also has two older brothers and says the three of them really shaped her into the person she is today. Dazzy has a few younger siblings from her father’s side who really look up to her, “I like the fact that they look up to me, I love talking to them and I love to be their inspiration and role model, so I always do my best to set very good examples for them.”
Dazmyne plans on going to Pima for 2 years and then NAU for 2 years to get her Bachelor’s in Science and Nursing.
