Eighth-grade student Lauren Pisano from Oldfield Middle School has recently been selected as the school’s annual Prudential Spirit of Community Award winner. The Prudential Spirit of Community Award program is the largest youth recognition program based primarily on community service. It honors middle and high school students for outstanding service at the local, state and national level.

To apply, Pisano completed an application process and submitted a 750-word essay detailing her volunteer work. The school reviewed her application and selected her as an honoree to continue on for state-level judging. Pisano will find out in February if she qualifies to be a finalist, as only one middle school and high school student from New York can be deemed a state honoree. Those students who continue on, have the chance to receive cash rewards, a trip to Washington D.C. for national recognition events and a $5,000 grant from the Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.

Pisano decided to apply to the program after hearing about it from a friend. As an active member of her church, she’s dedicated more than 500 hours to helping others. Pisano volunteers daily at the church food pantry, which helps feed 75 families, and recently took part in coordinating the church’s holiday giving tree, which provides items to less fortunate families during the holiday season. She also participates in Project Hope, making sandwiches to feed the homeless every month and is involved in Respite, a club that works with those with special needs.

“I really enjoy giving back,” said Pisano. “I get excited when I get to help others and I always look to do more.”
In addition to volunteering, Pisano is highly involved in the school community. She is an active member of the soccer and track team and is a chorus and orchestra student. Pisano is also a member of the Student Recognition Club, which spotlights students that are doing the right thing and are excellent examples of the school’s character trait of the month.

“We could not have chosen a more deserving student,” said guidance counselor Jennifer McCaffrey. “We are very excited for her.”

Photo Captions:

1) Oldfield Middle School student Lauren Pisano has been selected to represent the school in the annual Prudential Spirit of Community Award program.
2) Guidance Counselors Dahlia Roemer (left), Jennifer McCaffrey (middle right) and Mary Fagan (right) with Prudential Spirit of Community Award winner at Oldfield Middle School, Lauren Pisano (middle left).

Photos courtesy of the Harborfields Central School District

The community is invited to an open skate with the Oswego State men’s and women’s ice hockey teams for Holiday Skate with the Lakers, 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, in Marano Campus Center arena to benefit the local United Way.

Lakers Alli Ulrich in previous Holiday SkateThe annual event will feature holiday music, a visit by Santa Claus, a pair of hockey jersey raffles and concessions provided by Auxiliary Services. Laker ice hockey players will skate with participants and provide autographs for those interested.

Admission is $3 per person. Those interested in renting skates may do so for an additional $3 fee.

“We see a lot of families from the community—including kids of many ages—as well as students, faculty and staff, all having a great time,” said Diane Dillon, Laker women’s ice hockey coach and the event’s founder. “And the hockey players have so much fun with our fans. It’s one more way Laker student-athletes give back to our community.”

The event also gives back as part of the college’s annual State Employees Federated Appeal drive to support the United Way of Oswego County, this year with a $30,000 goal for overall activities. For more information on the college’s SEFA/United Way campaign, visit oswego.edu/sefa.

People with disabilities needing accommodations to attend should contact the SUNY Oswego Office of Human Resources at 312-2215 in advance.

Source: http://www.oswego.edu/news/index.php/site/news_story/holiday_skate_2016

On Thursday, UTEP Athletics introduced the “Miners Give Back” program, donating funds to two local organizations.

Instituted by UTEP’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) this semester, the program encourages Miner student-athletes to donate to charitable organizations.

The UTEP SAAC will select a minimum of two local organizations each semester that will receive the donations. This semester’s recipients are the Child Crisis Center and the Humane Society of El Paso.

A combined total of nearly $4,000, was donated to the Child Crisis Center and the Humane Society.

The president of the UTEP SAAC is Nicole Lindsay and the community service chair is Aleah Davis, both from the soccer team.

“As student-athletes at UTEP we receive an amazing amount of support from the community and they deserve that same support from us,” Davis said. “So we hope that with the Miners Give Back Program we can accomplish that and give a little bit back to those who continue to give so willingly to our athletics programs.”

“In our Life Skills department here at UTEP, we are continually working to develop programs that will prepare our student-athletes to become responsible citizens upon graduation,” UTEP Director of Athletics Bob Stull said. “We feel it is important for our student-athletes to learn that part of becoming successful adults and citizens of a community is to give back to those that are less fortunate. In El Paso, as in all communities, there are not-for-profit organizations that are essential to the health and welfare of our community. Our student-athletes and coaches are pleased to support those organizations.”

The amount donated is at the discretion of each student-athlete, and the program is not mandatory. UTEP coaches and staff are also welcome to participate.

Source: http://elpasoheraldpost.com/miners-give-back-program-features-student-athletes-donating-charitable-organizations/

DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 29, 2016) – The Mercy College field hockey team volunteered today for the 2016 #WearYourCare Volunteer Hat Campaign, which highlights #GivingTuesday. The campaign is run by Volunteer New York! based out of Tarrytown, N.Y.

Volunteer New York!’s main purpose is to inspire, mobilize, and equip individuals and groups to take positive action to address pressing challenges, support nonprofits and strengthen the quality of life in our community. Volunteer New York! is a one-stop resource devoted to increasing volunteerism in Westchester and our surrounding communities.

Individuals who donated more than $50 to Volunteer New York! received a hat on Giving Tuesday for their donation. The Mercy College field hockey team was responsible today for delivering those hats to who donated money to the organization.

To learn more about Volunteer New York! or how to get involved please visit:

https://www.volunteernewyork.org/HOC__Affiliate_Home_Page

Old Westbury, N.Y. – The NYIT men’s and women’s lacrosse programs both pursued separate community service ventures this Thanksgiving season to give back to those less fortunate. The women’s team volunteered their time at the Run for the Warriors event in Lindenhurst, N.Y. as the men’s program returned to Cohen Children’s Medical Center to put together a carnival for patients.

Run For The Warriors is a unique race dedicated to the men and women injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, their families, and families of the fallen. It is a celebration of their strength andresolve and a promise to continue restoring self, family, and hope. The Run For The Warriors race series provides wounded service members encouragement and the opportunity to pursue the sport of running, walking, or cycling to assist in their physical and emotional rehabilitation. Members of the women’s team acted as “Race Marshalls” that were spread throughout the course that helped direct way the while cheering and encouraging the runners.

From mini golf to a football toss, members of the team created, by hand, nearly 15 different activities for the children and their families to enjoy. Much like the event they hosted at St. Mary’s Hospital earlier in the semester, patients were able to socialize and win prizes without stepping foot out of the center. “Seeing these kids in the conditions they are in, was truely an eye opener,” commented senior attackman George Schultz. “It reminds me of how blessed and lucky I am given the opportunities I have been granted with. It was a warm hearted feeling seeing how much the kids were enjoying the games we put together for them.”

NYIT women’s lacrosse opens the inaugural season on Saturday, February 25 with a non-conference contest against Georgian Court. The men will take on Bentley University the same day but on their home field, President’s Stadium.