On a warm summer morning nearly ten years ago, Cliff Skudin of Long Beach, NY stumbled upon a surf outing for autistic children at a local beach. Unexpectedly, he was asked to participate as a coach, and he agreed to take a young boy out for a few waves. The 12-year-old had never spoken before, but after the thrill of those first rides, he communicated with words for the first time in his life. It was an emotional moment for everyone on the beach, and, of course, for Skudin as well. “To be a part of something so powerful was really special to me,” explains Skudin. That experience sparked a life-altering moment for Skudin, soon starting one of the most successful surf schools in the country with his brother, big-wave surfer Will Skudin, and creating a non-profit foundation, Surf For All, based in Long Island. We asked Skudin about the foundation, its impact on the Long Island community, and the lives the program has touched through the restorative power of surf.

What is Surf for All and how did it begin?

We’re a charity that’s dedicated to assisting people with all types of disabilities into the water and onto a surfboard. Jim Mulvaney, a local whose son suffers from autism, started a similar program years before me. His organization would help out with Surfers Healing and other foundations, but it was only an annual event. I saw a need to expand it for not only more people, but also for more frequent outings. That was the focus in the beginning. My brother Will, Jim, and I wanted to make the opportunity local and more available.

Did you help out with those other events before Surf For All?

Will and I always helped out with Izzy Paskowitz and Surfers Healing. But the events with Surfers Healing were limited only to autistic children, and I wanted to take it to all levels of disabilities — the blind and visually impaired, kids with life-threatening illnesses, wounded veterans, and even those with heavy economic disadvantages. The name kind of speaks for itself: Surf For All. I wanted to give that same experience in the water to everyone.

How did you get the word out to the families and the public about Surf For All?

We targeted specific community centers and school districts. By working with their teachers, volunteers, and school administrators, we found it a lot easier in having them bring down their students than having an open enrollment. Rather than hosting one long outing every couple of months, we found it more beneficial to have two outings per month for a couple of hours.

Read more at http://www.surfermag.com/blogs/agents-of-change/surfing-for-all/#BM4YSjqOTIdPRbgf.99

MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has named Morrisville State College the recipient of the conference’s elite Presidents’ Cup for the 2015-16 athletic year, highlighting the institution’s commitment to athletics, academics, community service and sportsmanship.

Recently featured in the NCAA Championship Magazine for its distinction, the NEAC established a new approach to awarding its Presidents’ Cup in 2014, in an effort to reflect the core values of the NCAA Division III.

“I can’t imagine a better way to validate the great work happening all across the Morrisville State campus, than being named the recipient of the North Eastern Athletic Conference Presidents’ Cup,” stated Athletic Director Greg Carroll.

“It’s a tribute to the athletic department staff; our faculty who work hand in hand with our athletes to help them balance their lives; our fans who support our expectations for appropriate, spirited behavior; and most of all our student-athletes who make it all happen on the fields, in the community, and across campus.”

“What a great honor for our student-athletes and everyone at Morrisville State College who supports them,” said MSC President David Rogers. “This is exactly the recognition that makes us proud of what we do: preparing young people to succeed not just in practices, meets, matches and games, but in classrooms, communities and life.”

Morrisville State was the top selection by its peers for the Senior Woman Administrators’ Cup, which awards the top institution on its success of their community service efforts in the amount of donations raised, total number of participants and total number of volunteer efforts.

In all, student-athletes, coaches and department staff members logged more than 2,100 hours among 731 total volunteers across its community outreach efforts, also raising greater than $9,800 for charitable organizations.

Morrisville State also claimed runner-up honors in the Athletic Directors’ Cup for athletic success, topping the men’s standings with a .918 winning percentage across the athletic year. The Mustangs claimed regular season titles in three different sports, including men’s soccer and men’s lacrosse who also went on to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Men’s basketball also took home a regular season title, finishing as the North Division champions.

Morrisville State finished a department best third in the women’s standings in the conference, with a .648 winning percentage. Women’s cross country earned runner-up honors following their second place finish at the conference championships, women’s basketball finished second in the North Division regular season standings, along with women’s lacrosse who claimed the second overall finish come season end.

The Mustangs were selected third overall in the Direct Reports’ Cup, which measures the level of sportsmanship exhibited throughout the year, voted on by conference coaches at the conclusion of their season.

Morrisville State finished 11th overall in the Faculty Athletic Representatives’ Cup, with 49 student-athletes earning scholar-athlete honors, and NEAC student-athletes posting a combined 2.823 grade point average.

“To end a year with high marks in all four categories that comprise the Presidents’ Cup is no small task, as every institution in the conference strives for that kind of excellence,” Carroll stated. “This is a terrific motivator to do even better going into a new year.”

“A huge thank you to all our coaches and athletic department staff,” Carroll continued, “we’ve got a great team in place.”

Morrisville State College’s curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.

The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges 2016 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2016 Best Colleges rankings. For more information about Morrisville State College, visit www.morrisville.edu.

This spring, Syosset High School’s student government sponsored the second annual BravesFest, a community festival that celebrates everything about Syosset schools.

Syosset Student Government partnered with the PTA and Syosset Teachers Association to continue the growth of this new tradition, hosting more than 700 community members who enjoyed more than 40 carnival-style booths that were created and run by various student clubs, student groups, classes, athletic teams, PTA units and STA.

The Syosset High School Association of Creative Thespians also conducted a Renaissance Fair while AP students displayed their works. The cross-country/track team hosted a Miles For Smiles 1-mile run during the event, while the girls varsity soccer team mentored elementary student athletes and helped them sharpen their soccer skills on the playing field. The main stage hosted 40 student acts throughout the day while volunteer teachers and administrators played the role of sitting ducks in the very popular dunk tank. The Syosset Robotics team also displayed their ingenuity with some of their designs. The PTSA operated the concessions.

David Steinberg is the adviser to the Syosset High School Student Government. Funds raised through the event went to support the Student Activity Fund and VH-1 Save the Music, which supports youth music education programs.

Photo Caption: Syosset High School’s Student Government sponsored the second annual BravesFest, a community festival with carnival-style booths that raised funds for student activities and the VH-1 Save the Music progtram.

Photo courtesy of the Syosset Central School District

For their Silver Award project, three Girl Scout Cadettes from Deer Park’s Troop 982 – Danielle Izzo, Kimberly Lewanduski and Kelly Rennert – selected a project close to their hearts that would help save lives. They chose to sponsor a Heart Walk, an awareness-raising heart health event in order to purchase an AED defibrillator for the Deer Park School District’s athletic department, which was recently presented to Deer Park Athletic Director Dominick Fontana.
During the event, held at the John F. Kennedy Intermediate School field, the community came out in support, participating in an educational discussion on healthy eating and various exercises, and joining the three Cadettes in a half-mile walk to demonstrate how easy maintaining a healthy heart can be.

IMG_0431: (From left) Girl Scout Cadettes Danielle Izzo, Kelly Rennert and Kimberly Lewanduski presented an AED defibrillator to Deer Park Athletic Director Dominick Fontana.

Photo courtesy of the Deer Park School District

Western Kentucky University Athletics once again participated in the United Way Day of Caring on July 27, lending about 120 volunteers to four projects in the area.

Hilltopper volunteers pitched in on projects at Warren East High School, Briarwood Elementary and Bowling Green Christian Academy. Their efforts included helping lay mulch and clean up playgrounds, painting interior walls and moving equipment.

Day of Caring, which is a program designed to partner with local non-profit organizations to complete numerous projects across the region, has been taking place since 2009.

This is the sixth straight year WKU has participated in Day of Caring as part of Hilltoppers With Heart, presented by Passport Health Plan.

This year, in honor of its 60th anniversary, United Way of Southern Kentucky is building upon its original concept with the introduction of 60 Days of Caring – a period starting July 18 and ending on Sept. 15 with a 60th anniversary community celebration.

During these 60 days, United Way is encouraging community members to do something to show that they care about our community. WKU took part in the first phrase of community impact, which was education.

Hilltoppers With Heart, sponsored by Passport Health Plan, was founded in 2011 and is designed to give WKU student-athletes, coaches and staff the unique opportunity to make an impact in the community by volunteering time and talent with numerous organizations including United Way, Boys and Girls Clubs, local schools and many more.

WKU Athletics set a new benchmark for the program in 2015-16 with more than 3,000 hours of service to the community. Since its inception, the community outreach initiative has contributed more than 9,000 hours of community service.

Passport Health Plan is a provider-sponsored, non-profit, community-based Medicaid health plan that has been contracted with Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services to administer Medicaid benefits since 1997.

Medicaid members can choose Passport to be their health care provider, and as of June 27, 2016, there are nearly 17,000 Passport members living in Region 4, which includes Warren County and the campus of Western Kentucky University.

Source: http://www.kyforward.com/wku-athletics-participates-in-four-volunteer-programs-during-united-way-day-of-caring/

From WKU Athletics