UPPER MARLBORO, Md. – Rising senior Mariah Hankton (Upper Marlboro, Md.) of the Southern Connecticut State University women’s basketball team recently volunteered her time with community outreach and mentoring duties at the Showtime Productions Modeling Company in her native Maryland.

This event is just one example of many community outreach events that SCSU student-athletes will take part in as part of the Tim Greer Insurance Agency Community Service Cup.

Initiated in September, 2008, the ‘Community Service Cup’ program provides a competitive format that allows student-athletes to gain an enriched experience through engagement with the on-campus and local communities by supporting ventures of traditional citizens, campus community members and peer students and student-athletes. SCSU student-athletes volunteered more than 4,000 hours of their time to numerous outreach efforts, both on-campus and in Greater New Haven, during the 2013-14 academic year.

Source: http://www.southernctowls.com/news/2014/7/29/GEN_0729144034.aspx

FREEHOLD, N.J. – Rising senior Meghan Cole (Jackson, N.J.) of the Southern Connecticut State University gymnastics team took time out yesterday to volunteer at the “Open Door” Soup Kitchen in her native New Jersey. During the course of the morning, Cole packed toiletries and lunches and unloaded and unpacked boxes.

This event is just one example of many community outreach events that SCSU student-athletes will take part in as part of the Tim Greer Insurance Agency Community Service Cup.

Initiated in September, 2008, the ‘Community Service Cup’ program provides a competitive format that allows student-athletes to gain an enriched experience through engagement with the on-campus and local communities by supporting ventures of traditional citizens, campus community members and peer students and student-athletes. SCSU student-athletes volunteered more than 4,000 hours of their time to numerous outreach efforts, both on-campus and in Greater New Haven, during the 2013-14 academic year.

Source: http://www.southernctowls.com/news/2014/8/21/GEN_0821140817.aspx

Micaela Velasquez, a middle distance freestyler and team captain for the UCSB swim team, was a natural choice to represent all Gaucho student-athletes at a recent Big West Conference annual meeting in Los Angeles.

“As an athlete, people recognize your accomplishments, yet what they always remember is the kind of person you are, your attitude, character, how you act after a bad race, how you shake your opponent’s hand, and how you cheer on your teammates,” Velasquez says.

On top of serving her fellow student-athletes, Velasquez also volunteers and coaches for several different organizations like Special Olympics and at local schools. She’s been named Presidio Sports’ local Sports Volunteer of the Month.

An all-star member of the Santa Clarita (her hometown) and now Santa Barbara communities, Velasquez just got back from the Big West Student Athlete Advisory Board (S.A.A.B.) Conference that takes place once a year during the summer. The S.A.A.B. group at UCSB is a committee comprised of two student-athletes chosen from each team that represent UCSB’s 20 NCAA sponsored sports.

Micaela, a leader of leaders, was then chosen from that already prestigious group to be one of two UCSB student-athletes representing their school. The student-athlete representatives discuss a variety of topics and issues facing each different school or team, as well as voting on Big West Conference legislation.

As Micaela explains, they “brainstormed ideas to improve their campuses, athletic departments, and athlete experiences,” with the goal to bring back “ideas for present and future student-athletes and opportunities to bring in more fans to athletic events and ways to further excel academically.”

Not only was Micaela chosen as the UCSB S.A.A.B. representative this summer, she was voted team captain for the upcoming season.

Velasquez’ journey began when she was just six years old, in her hometown of Santa Clarita, where she swam with her local summer recreational team and then she continued to swim and compete every summer. After joining her high school team at Valencia High School, it was there that her love of swimming, athletics, and team camaraderie began to develop and flourish.

“I started to enjoy the sport of swimming for more than just physical exercise,” Velasquez remembers. “I loved making friends, creating memories, and setting goals for myself.”

Micaela soon became captain of her high school team during her senior year and it propelled her into training to compete at a collegiate level, where she would be able to “grow into a stronger swimmer and human being.”

Since becoming a Gaucho, Micaela’s passion for the sport has increasingly grown. When she became a part of S.A.A.B., she was immediately “fascinated by the behind-the-scenes work the members did, especially with the community outreach within its community service sub-committee.”

She was quickly voted Administrative Chair, a managerial role in S.A.A.B. where she helps organize fundraising events with local businesses and sponsors for the annual Big West Conference Coin Drive that benefits local charities. Velasquez also works closely with the Adopt-A-Family project at Isla Vista Elementary School during the holiday season.

For the upcoming school year, she was just voted Co-Chair of S.A.A.B., the highest ranking position by her fellow S.A.A.B. members. She is “excited to continue work with the community while representing fellow Gaucho student-athletes and working towards department wide goals.”

Her involvement with Special Olympics started in Santa Clarita, while she was in Junior High School. She became an assistant coach for the swim practices. She continued to work with Special Olympics throughout her high school years as the Assistant Coach for the Santa Clarita Special Olympics Swim Team. She was soon awarded Southern California’s Special Olympics Volunteer of the Year.

To read more please visit: http://presidiosports.com/2014/08/micaela-velasquez-ucsb-student-athlete-takes-on-leading-role/

In a blend of hope and sadness, laughter and grief, Angel 34 on Tuesday announced that area student-athletes will spearhead an initiative to raise more than $3 million for the fight against childhood cancer.

Angel 34, a national organization headquartered in Nazareth, was founded by Nicole Sheriff, daughter of Linda and Doug Sheriff, who lost her battle with cancer in 2004 at the age of 15. Since then, Angel 34 has grown and expanded its outreach, and the student-athlete project is the newest.

Doug Sheriff, president of Angel 34, unveiled the initiative at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, where he introduced the student-athletes who have agreed to serve on the board of directors. They represent more than a dozen high schools across the Valley.

The board, which calls itself Athletes on the Field — Angels in the Community, will meet twice a month and oversee the organization’s fundraiser, which this year has a goal of $3.4 million.

» The latest on traffic, delays and road construction delivered to your mobile phone. Click to sign up to receive text alerts!

Sheriff said the students will meet with Lehigh Valley Health Network executives, doctors, nurses and social workers to learn the needs of the hospital, staff, children and their families.

“The board will then use the information to decide how to spend the funds that have been raised,” he said. “The student-athletes will donate their time, skills and passion to help make a difference in the lives of children.”

It was one of Nicole Sheriff’s long-held commitments in her short life. Her father explained that she was diagnosed with cancer when she was 14. Within a year, she lost her battle but had founded Angel 34 and infused it with her spirit of compassion and courage.

“Nicole wanted to do everything she could to help,” said Dr. J. Nathan Hagstrom, LVHN’s chairman of pediatrics. “During her battle with cancer, she displayed such courage and selflessness, she inspired everyone around her. Today, that inspiration will allow Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital to do even more for children with cancer.”

While now the head of Angel 34, Doug Sheriff is still Nicole’s dad, and he remembers the day she talked with her mother about her vision for the foundation. She insisted that all money raised should go toward helping children with cancer and that there should be no paid positions in the organization.

Sheriff said Troy Hein, sports anchor for WFMZ-TV 69 and host of “The Big Ticket,” and Marty Nothstein, cyclist and Olympic gold medalist, will be honorary chairmen for the fundraising initiative.

“There are some people out there you just can’t say no to,” Hein said. “Angel 34, Doug and Linda, and Nicole for me are at the top of that list.”

Nothstein implored the new board of directors to “carry that torch, make us all proud.”

Dr. Philip Monteleone, a pediatric oncologist who treated Nicole’s cancer, lauded Angel 34 and the new fundraising initiative.

“Every child with cancer touches you in different ways,” he said. “For me, Nicole was a kid who never gave up, never quit fighting, but what impressed me the most was her kindness.”

Sheriff showed a video, made this spring by Schaff’s Video, that features staff members of LVH-Muhlenberg’s hematology/oncology department, cancer patients and their families smiling, dancing, clowning around and lip-syncing to the song “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars. The three-minute video, shot in different locations in the Lehigh Valley, can be viewed on YouTube. Search for “Count on Me — Angel 34 Foundation.”

For a finishing touch to the day’s events, Sheriff presented a new coloring book, designed by Shannon Rutan of Nazareth as part of a Girl Scout project. Working with artist Natalie Hartman from ArtsQuest, Rutan created “Teddy’s Tale: A Bear’s-Eye View of Childhood Cancer.”

For more information on Angel 34, go to http://www.angel34.org.

Christy Potter is a freelance writer.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-lvh-angel-34-athletes-20140819,0,1530358.story#ixzz3AwFXx3cs
Follow us: @mcall on Twitter | mcall.lv on Facebook

ANNVILLE, PA (08/18/2014)(readMedia)– More than 500 Lebanon Valley College students will participate in a two-hour long service project in the auxiliary gymnasium at the Arnold Sports Center on Sunday, Aug. 24 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. The entire incoming Class of 2018 will work with returning student leaders at 15 different stations to make items to be donated to local charities as well as national and international service organizations.

The bulk of the items benefit service organizations in Lebanon County. The Humane Society of Lebanon County will receive 120 fleece blankets made by students during this time for distribution with adopted kittens. Hundreds of “tug toys” will be braided for adopted dogs. Friendship bracelets with rubber athletic charms will be donated for athletes involved in Lebanon County Special Olympics. Four cardboard playhouses will be colored and donated to Habitat for Humanity of Lebanon County. And Lebanon City School District will receive 120 handmade felt puppets.

Several items will be sent to nonprofit organizations outside of the County. Vases filled with cards and brightly colored paper flowers will be delivered to patients of the children’s hospital at the Hershey Medical Center. Holiday cards created during the project will be sent throughout the year to families at Hope Lodge in Hershey.

At the national level, students will write letters of encouragement to current military personnel. Plarn-yarn which the students will make from plastic bags-will be mailed to a group of volunteers in West Virginia to be knit into sleeping mats for the homeless. Friendship bracelets mailed to the Cool Kids Campaign will be distributed to children with cancer.

International concerns have not been forgotten. Representatives from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) will bring education kits for verification by the students. Hundreds of shoeboxes will be wrapped in Christmas paper in preparation to be filled with toys and sent to children in Africa, Asia and Latin America with Operation Christmas Child.

As they work, the students will enjoy music provided by a live D.J.

The service projects provide a unique opportunity for incoming LVC students to work together as a class toward a common goal. “We’re particularly pleased by the high level of involvement on the part of returning students,” said LVC Chaplain Paul Fullmer. “All of these projects are being coordinated for the incoming students by returning students who are heavily involved in service organizations on campus.”

The Orientation Service Project is the first of a series of programs designed in support of LVC’s goal to prepare students for a life of service to others. Throughout the academic year, students will also engage representatives of local service organizations at a service fair, work monthly with the American Foundation for Children with Aids (AFCA) and Habitat for Humanity of Lebanon County, and participate in national service initiatives such as Make a Difference Day, MLK Day of Service, and Lebanon County Day of Caring, among other projects.

To encourage service to the nation as well as the local community, LVC’s Student Government has designated funds for a service trip to Pittsburg over spring break. International service trips to Honduras and Puerto Rico are also in initial stages of planning.

Several incentive programs seek to reward students for their service. Bronze, Silver or Gold Community Service Awards based upon the number of hours a student serves the local community are posted on LVC’s Job Center Profile for the information of prospective employers. Students who serve the local community are also recognized at an annual banquet and in the commencement program.

Community members who know of active or retired military personnel or residents of local retirement community who might appreciate a note from a college student are welcome to contact Chaplain Fullmer in the Office of Community Service and Volunteerism at 717-867-6135 or fullmer@lvc.edu. The donation of shoeboxes to the Office would also be appreciated.

Source: http://readme.readmedia.com/First-Lesson-for-Incoming-LVC-Students-The-Value-of-Community-Service/9636388