A three-sport athlete, Melissa Mulliken played field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse and was extremely active in a wide-range of campus activities. She was a four-year member of the Athletic Association Board and served as the senior speaker at Moving Up Day in 1980.
Originally from Pikeville, Ky., Mulliken’s small high school offered just two sports for girls, basketball and track. Nevertheless, she came to William Smith blessed with athleticism and a passion for sports.
As a sophomore, Mulliken spent her first of three seasons as a captain for the basketball team and earned the Hazel Nettleship Hardy ’65 Award presented to the student-athlete in her middle years who has contributed to the growth of Heron athletics by being an excellent academic and athletic representative of William Smith students.
The following year, she helped lead the cagers to the New York state tournament, a first for the program, and was honored with the creation of the Melissa Mulliken Award. She was also the first recipient of the prize that recognizes leadership in athletics and in off-the-field endeavors.
As a senior, Mulliken helped the field hockey team to the state championship, and turned in another fine basketball season. At one point during the campaign, the Herons were the top ranked team in the East in field goal percentage and second in team defense.
A member of the honors program, Mulliken was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and inducted into Hai Timiai, William Smith’s senior honor society.
Mulliken worked in the HWS Sports Information Office as an undergraduate and served as the sports information director for two years following graduation. During her time as SID, she was a key figure in the contest that resulted in the Heron becoming the school’s official mascot.
Mulliken served on the steering committee that helped conceptualize the Heron Society and she was a member of the Heron Society Board of Directors for several years.
