Jude Schimmel has done more in her 21 years than some people do in a lifetime.
She has been a standout student-athlete in high school and college. She’s been, and remains, a role model in the Native American community. And she, her older sister and her family have been the subjects of a documentary movie.
Now, she’s an author.
Schimmel, who recently completed her senior season with the University of Louisville women’s basketball team, released her debut book, ‘Dreamcatcher,’ on Wednesday.
The book details Schimmel life growing up on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon and what it took to succeed in life outside of the reservation as well as at UofL. Schimmel also shares some of the lessons her parents instilled in her, and her siblings, as well as many others she’s learned along the way.
“I want to positively impact other Native Americans so that they can live the life they want to achieve and fulfill the dreams that they have,” Schimmel, who was the starting point guard for the Cardinals this past season, said in a press release. “I went through, and witnessed, similar struggles that many Native Americans go through and want to share that with others. I want my story to show that there can be great success found both on the reservation and off the reservation.”
Schimmel finished her career at Louisville ranked in the Top 10 in program history in assists while scoring over 700 points. This past season she averaged 7.6 points, a team-high 3.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game while also recording a team-high tying 74 steals and finishing second on the squad in minutes played (509). Schimmel started all 34 games for the Cards, who went 27-7 and lost to Dayton in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 last month. She was a member of the winningest class in program history, posting 112 career victories. Schimmel played in four NCAA Tournaments, including the 2013 national championship game.
Schimmel, who hopes to be picked in Thursday night's WNBA Draft, is the younger sister of former UofL star Shoni Schimmel, who plays for the WNBA's Atlanta Dream. The Schimmels were featured in the movie “Off the Rez,” which looks at their family’s move off the Umatilla Reservation in pursuit of the American dream.
Schimmel, who earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology in the summer of 2014 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sports administration, was recently named an ambassador for the Nike N7 Fund, an organization committed to creating early positive experiences in sport and physical activity for Native American and Aboriginal youth in North America. Schimmel visited the White House in early April as she continues to work towards sharing the struggles of the Native American community and find ways to improve opportunities for Native American youth in the 566 federally recognized tribes in 35 states nationwide in such areas as education and healthcare.
Schimmel will appear at a signing for ‘Dreamcatcher’ at 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening at the Cardinal Hall of Fame Cafe. The book is available for purchase at Schimmel’s website - www.judeschimmel.com.
Photo courtesy University of Louisville Women’s Basketball Facebook Page
