LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Centenary’s Sarah Bradshaw was named Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Female Character and Community Student-Athlete of the Week. The senior from Longview, Texas, joined fellow Centenary student-athletes Kayla Thornhill (women’s cross country) and Gregg Simmons (men’s cross country) who were honored earlier this seeason.

Bradshaw, who served as President of the Centenary College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee this past year, helped to organize many activities throughout the 2013-14 academic year, including the Centenary College Service Week, which is sponsored by the Centenary SAAC.

This week-long event gave the student-athletes to interact and assist with various organizations in the Shreveport community.

The 17 intercollegiate programs divided into small groups to lend a helping hand at Common Ground, the Northwest Louisiana Food Bank and Querbes SPAR Recreation Center with service projects that consisted of dinner preparation, helping in the community garden, cleanup projects, tutoring and various other activities.

“This is a new approach to service that we have implemented this year,” said Bradshaw. “Community service is very important to us and this is a great way to get everyone involved. We as student-athletes believe that community service is important to grow and expand the community and we are all excited to help in any way we can.”

“With smaller groups, everyone can help and we can help many different organizations with service projects instead of finding somewhere large enough for all of us to go together,” continued Bradshaw. “We paired teams up by their brother and sister teams and then found places that needed some type of service work done and sent student athletes there.”

The student-athletes totaled 200-plus hours of community service during the week.

In addition to her role as SAAC President, Bradshaw played a huge role in the mentoring and training of Resident Assistants. She coordinated the “Sunshine Committee”, which helped create a culture of caring among the Residence Life staff by leading a committee that celebrated birthdays as well as spreading “sunshine” to staff for encouragement. The group also supported Centenary students and student-athletes by giving them encouragement and promoting their activities across campus.

Bradshaw also assisted with the Salvation Army Toy Drive, Polar Plunge, a canned food drive, Oxfam America and single-handedly organized a Special Olympics Basketball game.

She also assisted with the campus MLK Service Day and worked with Shreveport Green.

The SCAC Character & Community award was created in 2009 to honor and recognize the efforts of the extraordinary student-athletes of the conference who not only excel athletically on the field, course, court, pool or track, but also by serving their campus and community.

Source: http://www.gocentenary.com/wgolf/news/2013-14/7105/bradshaw-named-scac-female-character-and-community-student-athlete-of-the-week/

On Sunday May 18th, nine athletes from Bellport High School and Bellport Middle School participated in various track and field events at the Special Olympics Spring Games hosted by Southampton High School. Athletes from a variety of Suffolk County Schools competed for gold, silver and bronze metals. Mr. Patronaggio and Mr. Grossi volunteered to chaperone the event and were joined by high school students from the “Athletes Helping Others” club.

The athletes trained for a month in various events with Mrs. Clark at Bellport HS and Mr. Giacomin at Bellport MS. At the games, the athletes were cheered on and supported by the “Athletes Helping Others” club, Mr. Patronaggio, Mrs. Quatrale, Mr. Grossi, Mrs. Bodnarchuk, and Mrs. Giacomin.

Our athletes did an excellent job and are looking forward to next year’s competition. Below is a list of participating athletes:

Bellport High School
Deanna Boylan: 1 silver medal
Jillian Kelvas: 2 gold medals
Joe Maddalone: 2 gold medals
Kyshauwn Maynes: 1 gold medal

Bellport Middle School
Thomas Spiotta- 2 gold medals
Sa’Von Liggins- 1gold, 1 bronze
Ethan Wilson- 1 gold 1 silver
Taishawn Augustin 1 gold 1 bronze
Jimmy Garcia 1 gold 1 silver

Congratulations and good luck next year!

Source: http://www.southcountry.org/

Copley, OH – June 10, 2014: In the Fall of 2013 and Spring of 2014, University of Akron Student Athletes participated in the freshman leadership program and chose to work with Spring Garden Waldorf School students.

In fall, the UA freshman spread 50 yards of new mulch on the SGWS playground. According to Spring Garden Admissions Director Amy Hecky, “This was a big, difficult job, and mulching our play area is essential for the safety of our children. We are so grateful the students were willing to come do such hard work.”

In the spring, a new group of freshman athletes talked to Spring Garden Grade Five students about what it means to be a college athlete. The college students spoke about the importance of sleep, nutrition, and good study habits, and the necessity for hours and hours of practice that might seem mundane, but is essential for competition. They also spoke to the importance of resilience — experiencing failure and getting up to try again. This message resonated with SGWS fifth graders who, at the time of the discussion, were training for a multi-school Pentathlon competition.

At the end of their involvement, the UA students decided to donate $200 to SGWS.

Hecky says, “We were so moved and honored by this kind gesture after all they had already bestowed on our school. We give a heartfelt thanks to The University of Akron and their generous student athletes.”

Source: http://www.ohio.com/upublish/school-and-education/ua-athletes-give-back-at-spring-garden-waldorf-school-1.492905

ISU Student Athletes lend a hand during community appreciation week to strengthen ties with each other and their community.

To read more and see their local news video clip, please visit: http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/story/d/story/isu-athletes-give-back-for-community-appreciation/13105/xqOncLtS_EGNRmxrXqVxsQ#.U5JphG1viX8.twitter

Hempstead, NY – Throughout the 2013-14 academic year, Hofstra University student-athletes were active in and around the Hofstra and surrounding communities. During the year, student-athletes from all 17 athletic teams took part in more than 40 community service projects and totaled nearly 3,000 hours of service.

The Department of Athletics is proud of all of the student-athletes at Hofstra University for their continued dedication to serve others. Their volunteer efforts were recognized by the Hofstra University Office of Student Leadership and Activities, which awarded Hofstra’s student-athletes with two awards at its’ annual end of the year banquet. Student-athletes received the Good Neighbor Award for their work during this year’s Shake-A-Rake initiative, as well as the Community Service Event of the Year for their annual Reading With Pride project.

“I am proud of our student-athletes for the tremendous support that they have once again provided in our surrounding communities,” said Hofstra Vice President and Director of Athletics Jeffrey A. Hathaway. “It is clear that our student-athletes understand that they are very fortunate to attend an outstanding University and be presented with opportunities to excel in both the classroom and competitive venues. At the same time they have a passion for helping others and know that part of being a Hofstra student-athlete is to give back to others. Special thanks to our student-athletes, coaches and staff for making our community service program so successful.”

Highlighted community service events during the spring semester included:

POLAR PLUNGE

Student-athletes from men and women’s cross country, men’s tennis, men and women’s golf and volleyball took part in the annual Town of North Hempstead Polar Plunge in support of the Special Olympics of Long Island. The team raised more $1,200 for the event, which totaled $82,512 in donations.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PARK CLEAN UP

The men’s tennis team spent several Sunday mornings throughout the semester at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Hempstead. Along with other students from Hofstra and several community members, Pride student-athletes helped clean up the park as part of the Hempstead Beautification Program.

YOUTH SOCCER CLINICS

The men and women’s soccer teams held several clinics throughout the semester for local youth groups. Children were taken through drills, games and activities that stressed skill building, teamwork and sportsmanship. Some of the organizations worked with included the Massapequa Soccer Club and the Levittown Soccer Club. The men and women’s soccer teams at Hofstra held a special youth day on April 13, where they joined with soccer legend Pele and hosted a day full of soccer activities at James M. Shuart Stadium.

LET ALL THE CHILDREN PLAY CLINIC

The Hofstra University Department of Athletics partnered with the Let All The Children Play Foundation for an afternoon of sports at the Hofstra University Fitness Center. More than 100 participants attended the sports day and were taken through drills and games in soccer, baseball and softball. Student-athletes from the Pride men and women’s soccer teams as well as the baseball team ran the event, while team members from the men’s tennis and volleyball teams helped set-up for the festivities.

CAA FOOD DRIVE CHALLENGE

Throughout the first week in March, student-athletes from nearly all of Hofstra’s athletic teams joined together to host a weeklong food drive. Non-perishable food items were collected at local supermarkets as well as at home athletic contests. Overall, more than 450 pounds of food were donated to the Island Harvest Food Bank.

MARY BRENNAN INN

Student-athletes from the women’s basketball team helped raise funds to sponsor a meal at the Mary Brennan Inn. The team took a special trip to The Inn on January 14 and helped serve the meal they had sponsored to hundreds of guests.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF LONG ISLAND CLINICS

Hofstra Athletics played host to clinics for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island twice during the spring semester. Children from the organization came to campus on separate Wednesday afternoons and were led through sports clinics by team members from the men’s lacrosse and men’s soccer teams. Head Coaches Seth Tierney and Richard Nuttall and their squads ran the participants through stations featuring different skill building exercises, and each day ended with a game between Hofstra student-athletes and Big Brothers Big Sisters participants.

UNITED NATIONS INTER-AGENCY GAMES

From Wednesday April 23 through April 26, Hofstra University played host to the United Nations Inter-Agency Games. UN representatives from 104 countries visited campus for friendly competition in a number of sporting events. Student-athletes from the Pride men and women’s tennis, volleyball, women’s cross country and women’s soccer programs volunteered throughout the event in a variety of areas including scorekeeping and officiating. The experience was tremendous for all involved.

READING WITH PRIDE

More than 35 student-athletes took part in the annual Reading With Pride event. Pride student-athletes from baseball, women’s lacrosse, men and women’s cross country, men and women’s tennis, volleyball and field hockey teams visited four local elementary schools and read to children in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. The Hofstra University Office of Student Leadership and Activities recognized the event as the 2013-14 Community Service Event of the Year.

EISENHOWER PARK MINI TRIATHLON

Student-athletes from men and women’s cross country helped set-up for the event, as well as volunteered at registration tables and water stations throughout the day.

JAIL & BAIL

The Annual Jail & Bail event run by the Office of Student Leadership and Activities was a huge success this year. Student-athletes from women’s golf, men and women’s cross country, men’s tennis, volleyball and field hockey programs took part in the event, which raised funds for the Special Olympics of New York.

THINK PINK GAME

The Pride women’s basketball team held its annual Think Pink game on February 9 to raise Breast Cancer awareness. The team wore pink uniforms during the game and donned “United We Fight” t-shirts during warmups.

GIRL SCOUT WALK-A-THON

Student-athletes from volleyball and women’s tennis volunteered at the Annual Girl Scouts of Long Island Walk-A-Thon at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration. Volunteers spent the afternoon at the fundraiser, helping to set-up and run water stations, as well as putting on athletic displays for the guests who were in attendance.

ST. BALDRICK’S DAY

Hofstra’s community service efforts were not just limited to student-athletes as Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Facilities Jay Artinian raised nearly $1,500 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and shaved his head at the Hofstra’s annual St. Baldrick’s Day event.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CLINICS

The Hofstra Women’s Basketball team took part in several clinics during the spring semester. Team members assisted with basketball skill events at local elementary schools and also hosted a clinic on campus for the Special Olympics of Long Island.

Source: http://www.gohofstra.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209515278&DB_OEM_ID=22200