Driven to Succeed: Julia Ingram

By: Emily Stoops

Born and raised in Clearwater, Florida, Julia Ingram, class of 2021, has never known a time without basketball. Ingram's father was a walk-on for the University of Kentucky, so she grew up watching basketball and started playing in organized leagues at the age of six. While basketball started as a way to meet and make friends, the love for the sport developed in middle school.

"I played almost every day with my three older siblings. In middle and high school, I had the privilege to play on the same team as my two older sisters. I learned a lot from them. As I continued to get better and better, basketball became a larger, more significant part of my identity," Ingram explained.

The sport brought Ingram to the University of Tampa.  On her official visit, she knew the school, the coaches, and her teammates were the perfect fit.  In addition, the 45-minute drive for her family and friends to cheer her on as she played was an added bonus.

As the culmination of her junior basketball season approached, a global pandemic was spreading rapidly. Her season was forced to a halt.

"The team had driven 10 hours to Cleveland, Tennessee, for the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament.  After practicing, officials told us that the Tournament had been canceled," Ingram said.  "It was an emotional rollercoaster. We traveled back home and had to move out of our dorms in less than a week."

The effect of COVID-19 carried over into her senior year and proved to be equally difficult. Prior to her season starting, the team received notice that the season would be shortened.  As a result, they would not have enough games played to be eligible to compete in this year's NCAA Tournament.

"Some days, my teammates and I struggled to find motivation to practice when we were not sure when our next game would be. However, I believe that I grew stronger as a person from this year. I am so thankful to have my teammates and my coaches during this time. As we worked through the uncertainties of this year, we grew closer together," Ingram reflected.

Despite the challenges, Ingram and the team were resilient and persevered. They concluded their season by being undefeated and by winning the Sunshine State Conference Championship.  The trophy was the reward for their talent, cohesiveness, and adaptability during unprecedented times. The win was "the most meaningful" of her career.

Ingram has worked diligently during her time at UT and has left a legacy and impact in the classroom and on the court.  

She achieved a cumulative 4.00 GPA over her four years while in the honors program and is a member of various honors societies including Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Alpha Theta (History), Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science), and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Ingram was awarded the Polluck Scholarship for Excellence in the History Major and received a grant from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry to conduct a Senior Honors Thesis on governance in Burkina Faso. This thesis was accepted for presentation at the Midwest Political Science Association's Annual Conference in Chicago.  In addition, she wrote a 20-page primary source historical research paper that was accepted for presentation at the Florida Conference of Historians and is pending publication.

Athletically, Ingram served as captain for two years. She made the Sunshine State Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll for four years and the University of Tampa's All-Academic Team for four years. She was chosen to represent the team on the University's Royal Guard of Honor for two years. Ingram was awarded the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award as a junior and the Female Iron Spartan Award (best in the weight room) as a sophomore.  In addition, she was the president of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) for two years, acting as a liaison between university administration and the student-athletes.

Ingram will graduate in May with a double major in Political Science and History and a minor in Law, Justice, and Advocacy. After graduation, she plans to attend law school with the hopes of starting a political career and becoming governor of Florida one day.  She was selected as this year's commencement speaker for the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Education.

"I am so honored. Having that recognition makes me feel like I made a greater impact on the University beyond just athletics," Ingram said. 

As she prepares for her next chapter, Ingram is grateful for her time at the University.

"My Spartan experience has been unforgettable. During my four seasons, we made it to two NCAA tournaments, won two regular-season conference championships, and ended with the SSC Tournament Championship this year. The teammates that I had are some of my closest friends, and I have formed strong bonds with my coaches that I know will last a lifetime. My involvement in SAAC gave me the opportunity to meet other athletes and work with the athletic administration to promote athletics across campus and in the community," said Ingram. "I had a great academic experience. My professors challenged me and helped me grow as a student and as a person. They invited me to work on papers and projects that gave me invaluable experience for my future academic endeavors."

She wishes for all Spartans, current and future, to enjoy every single moment of their time at the University.  Her advice is simple: do not be afraid to get to know the professors and to speak out in the classroom, get involved on campus and in organizations, live in the now, and max out the experiences provided.

There is no denying that Ingram has led by example and set the bar high.