Students at Walt Whitman Elementary School in Syosset recently pulled together to raise more than $3,500 for a very important cause – the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

An issue close to the students’ hearts, the Walt Whitman Student Council began spreading awareness about leukemia and lymphoma and distributing collection canisters to the different classrooms for families and staff to donate to the LLS’s Pennies for Patients program.
The effort consisted of incentives to classes that reached donation benchmarks, including board games and ice cream parties provided by the Walt Whitman PTA, “Walt Whitman ROCKS” bracelets for each class member, a basketball game of Knockout with principal Chad Synder and a pizza party to the top fundraising class. Students also created get well cards for distribution by the LLS.

Photo Caption A: Walt Whitman Elementary School’s top two LLS fundraising classes are pictured, taught by Nina Trembly and Lisa Steinberg. Trembly is pictured at bottom right along with student council advisers Michele Strauss (back left) and Sharon Schaefer. Missing from the photo is Steinberg. Student Council coordinated and promoted the LLS fundraiser throughout the school.
Photo Caption B: Pictured (l-r) Walt Whitman Elementary School Student Council secretary Ava Lubman, treasurer Stanley Hwang and president Sydney Kassinove display their Walt Whitman Rocks bracelets and some of the board games that were awarded by the PTA for their fundraising efforts.

Photos courtesy of the Syosset CSD

Football players representing The Dalles High School have been out in the streets working on projects this summer, as part of an outreach program with local businesses and community members in an effort to give back. The team has been in several different locations, including the Taylor Lake area, working for The Dalles Port Authority. The goal for head coach Steve Sugg, far right, is to teach his athletes the value of hard work, team bonding and service, as a way to help build a better student-athlete and citizen. Any businesses or residents seeking help with yard work or other matters can call Sugg at 541-980-4594.

Source: http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2016/jun/08/td-football-giving-back/

Students at Harborfields High School as well as members of the Booster Club and PTA Council’s Health and Welfare Committee rallied together to raise funds to benefit the Long Island Chapter of the Special Olympics. Through their collective efforts, they raised more than $1,700 for the cause by selling customized Special Olympics bracelets and collecting donations from community sponsors and local businesses. Harborfields’ donation will go toward helping to prepare and send four local athletes to competitions this year.

“Harborfields School District should be extremely proud of the dedication and time they put into raising funds for our Long Island Special Olympics athletes,” said Rebecca Strickland, associate director of development at the Long Island Chapter of the Special Olympics. “With some struggles along the way, with conflicting fundraiser dates and last minute forced cancellations, they didn’t let it stop them. We are so thankful and proud of their determination to make a difference in the lives of our athletes.”

Photo Caption: (From l-r) John Valente, Harborfields High School athletic director; Rebecca Strickland, associate director of development at the Long Island Chapter of the Special Olympics; Deb Stolba, chairperson of the Harborfields Booster Club; and Rachel Spencer, chairperson of the Harborfields PTA Council Health & Welfare Committee.

Photo courtesy of the Harborfields Central School District

Six standout career development students earned medals and gained priceless experiences as part of East Islip’s first-ever Special Olympics team this spring.

Earlier this year, East Islip Middle School physical education teachers Laura O’Donnell and Diane Wahrenburg became certified Special Olympics coaches. They soon recruited a six-member team at the middle school, began training and entered East Islip’s first team into the Special Olympics Long Island Spring Games South, hosted by Bellport High School on May 22.

“The Special Olympics gives our athletes an opportunity to shine as individuals and be a part of a team,” said Wahrenburg.

The event kicked off on May 20 with a breakfast sponsored by the middle school’s Leaders Club, celebrating the student athletes. In attendance were the athletes and their families, the coaches, Leaders Club officers, Principal Mark Bernard, assistant principals Christian Seifert and Jason Stanton, Director of Special Education Lisa Belz and Susan Kosser, the assistant to the superintendent for student support services.

At the competition, the six athletes competed in two events each, and each athlete earned two medals. Anthony Gallino went home with two gold medals for the 50-meter race and the softball throw, Ryan Guerra took silver in both the 100-meter walk and softball throw, Krish Kajuria walked his way to gold in the 100-meter race walk and placed fourth in the softball throw, Emily Maccarone came home with gold medals in the softball and mini javelin throw, Sarah Spruyt took bronze medals in both the 50-meter race and the softball throw, and Christopher Urraro took the silver in the 50-meter race and gold in the softball throw.

“It was an incredible experience,” said O’Donnell. “Training for the events, getting to know the students on a more personal level, and being there with them and their families to celebrate their achievements at the Special Olympics was a very rewarding experience. I am looking forward to next year and expanding the program in the years to come.”

IMG_2470: Six East Islip Middle School career development students earned medals and gained priceless experiences as part of East Islip’s first-ever Special Olympics team at the Long Island Spring Games South on May 22

Photo courtesy of the East Islip School District

# # #

ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio university Student-Athlete Advisory Council participated in the Mid-American Conference Community Service Week earlier this month. During the week, the Bobcats student-athletes lent a hand in various community activities in and around Athens.

The week opened with six Ohio student-athletes heading to the Athens County Dog Shelter to help walk and play with the dogs housed there that are waiting for adoption.

“MAC Community Service Week is important because the community shows an incredible amount of support to Bobcat Athletics, and this is our way to show our support back,” said Ohio senior track & field/cross country athletes Caroline Hildebrand (Hilliard, Ohio).

On Tuesday, members of the golf, volleyball and wrestling teams went to visit residents of Laurels of Athens Nursing Home in Athens.

“I’m so glad I volunteered for this event,” said Bobcat redshirt sophomore wrestler Noah Forrider (Marysville, Ohio). “I met Bess from Georgia during our visit to the retirement home and she offered me advice about the ladies. It was a great experience and I’d love to go back.

Thursday provided two opportunities for community service. First Ohio softball soccer and wrestling student-athletes helped clean up the Athens Community Center Pool to get it ready for the summer season. They cleaned the locker rooms, raked leaves and cleaned out the bathrooms at the pool.

“The Athens Community does so much to help and support student-athletes, so I am grateful for the opportunity to give back by helping clean up the community that has provided so much for me,” said Ohio junior soccer player Brooke Kemerer (Saginaw, Mich.).

In the afternoon, Ohio men’s and women’s basketball players and coaches volunteered to be rebounders a the Bobcat Rentals Three-Point Shootout hosted by the Recreation and Sport Pedagogy Rec 3620 Students. The proceeds went to benefit Team Impact, a non-profit 501 ( c) 3 organization chartered to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening illnesses.

“Team Impact is really important to me because it gives kids like me who can’t really play sports – a chance to be on a team like everybody else,” said junior Adyn Bucher (Athens, Ohio), a women’s basketball player and a member of Team Impact. especially a team of super cool college kids that are fun to hang out with!”

“The three-point shootout put on for Team IMPACT was a great opportunity for my teammates and myself expand our horizons and do something for others while incorporating the game we love,” said Ohio men’s basketball senior Treg Setty (Maysville, Ky.) It was fun and exciting to be able to help others all the while enjoying the game we love so much.”

On Friday of that week, Bobcat student-athletes visited Logan Middle School with Ohio Mascot Rufus during lunch and recess. The Student-athletes took questions from sixth and seventh grade students about their sports and experience as a Bobcat student-athlete.

“What an amazing experience for our student,” said Logan-Hocking Middle School Principal Courtney Spatar. “Our students were able to meet Rufus and talk to student-athletes. The air of excitement and discussion of leadership was a valuable experience for our students. I had several teachers tell me that we need to do this again.”

“MAC Community Service Week is a great reminder of giving back while I’m out of season,” said SAAC President Sebastian Pique. “It makes students and everyone else around the school happy and I am happy to inspire their dreams.”

#BleedGreen

Source: http://www.ohiobobcats.com/genrel/042116aaa.html