CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – A day before opening the 2014 season, the UNC football team kicked off another hallmark of the fall: Friday visits to North Carolina Children’s Hospital.

UNC student-athletes spend time at N.C. Children’s Hospital year-round, but the visits by football players on Fridays before home games has become a tradition. For the first visit of the fall, a group that included 22 players and several staff members made the short walk from Kenan Football Center up to UNC Hospitals just after lunchtime.

They spent their time there signing posters, posing for pictures, and talking with patients and their families. The children were excited to talk with the Tar Heels, and discussed everything from playing positions to favorite movies.

“These visits are important to our players because they understand they are in a fortunate position and we believe the best way to show appreciation for that is to give to someone who might be in a less fortunate situation,” said Ron Brewer, Director of Student-Athlete Development for Football.

Players who participated in the visit were Brandon Fritts, Allen Artis, Ben Craig, Thomas Jackson, Nathan Staub, Nick Weiler, Kyle Murphy, Romar Morris, Tyler Royal, Luke Heavner, John Ferranto, Schuyler Coleman, Elijah Hood, Jarrod James, Myers Colvin, Jeremiah Clarke, Andrew Moore, Alex Bales, Jeff Schoettmer, Eric Albright, Shakeel Rashad and Allen Champagne.

“Today was a great way to brighten the kids’ day and show them we care,” said Tyler Royal, a sophomore running back.

Carolina hosts Liberty Saturday at Kenan Stadium. Kickoff is 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

SOurce: http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&SITE=UNC&DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=209627923

CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Mid-American Conference announced today, Aug. 29, the presentation of the Cartwright Award to Eastern Michigan University for its program excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship during the 2013-14 school year. The Cartwright Award will be presented to EMU Saturday, Aug. 30, during the Eagles’ home football game against Morgan State University at 6 p.m. inside Rynearson Stadium.

“The Cartwright Award is a unique award in that it recognizes excellence not only on the field of play, but also in the classroom and in community,” said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher. “To be selected by its peers for this award is a tremendous honor for Eastern Michigan University. I applaud the student-athletes, coaches and entire staff for this special honor.”

The Cartwright Award is an institutional award presented annually to one university in the MAC. A committee with representation from all 12 institutions selected the Cartwright Award winner from nominations submitted based upon the criteria of excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship. The award began in 2008-09. This is the first time EMU has received the honor.

“Winning the Cartwright Award is an outstanding demonstration of the importance Eastern Michigan University places on helping to develop young men and women into caring, responsible and successful adults,” said University President Susan Martin. “It reflects our emphasis on success in all areas of the university experience — in the classroom, in the community, and on the playing field. I would like to thank Vice President and Director of Athletics Heather Lyke, her team of coaches and staff, and our dedicated faculty, for their support of our student athletes. This has been a tremendous year for Eastern Michigan Athletics, and I am proud of our student athletes for achieving this wonderful honor.”

The Cartwright Award is named in honor of Carol A. Cartwright, Ph.D., one of the most highly respected voices in higher education. Cartwright served as the president of Kent State from 1991-06 and president of Bowling Green State University from 2008-11. Cartwright previously was the vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of California at Davis and dean for undergraduate programs and vice provost at the Pennsylvania State University. She has served on the NCAA Board of Directors and is a member of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics.

“It is a tremendous honor to receive the Cartwright Award as it is a testament to our student-athletes’, coaches’ and staff’s commitment to the three pillars of the student-athlete experience,” added Lyke. “Academics, athletics and community service are a constant focus in guiding our priorities within the department. The award also represents the extraordinary support we receive from our University and community partners. I would like to thank Dr. Steinbrecher, the MAC staff and our colleagues in the MAC for recognizing our accomplishments.”

Previous Cartwright Award winners include: Central Michigan University (2008-09), Kent State University, (2009-10 and 2012-13), Western Michigan University (2010-11) and the University of Toledo (2011-12).

Even though the award marks just the first Cartwright Award for EMU, it is not the school’s first award for overall excellence. The department has taken possession of the Reese Trophy four times (1987-88, 1990-91, 1995-96, and 2007-08) as the league’s top men’s athletics program. The Reese Trophy is named for former MAC Commissioner David E. Reese, the first-ever MAC Commissioner who served the league from its inception in 1946 until retiring in 1964.

Below is a brief summary of the accomplishments by Eastern Michigan University in each of the three areas of academic, athletic and citizenship excellence:

EMU Academic Summary (2013-14):
• Student-athletes earned the highest semester GPA in school history during the Fall of 2013 semester with a 3.159 and also turned in the third highest cumulative GPA after the Fall with a 3.189.
• After the Winter 2014 semester, Eastern Michigan’s semester GPA of 3.145 was the second highest semester GPA in history while the cumulative GPA of 3.187 was the fourth highest in school history.
• A total of 67 student-athletes that earned a 4.0 GPA last year.
• There were 371 (68%) of our student-athletes had a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at the end of the academic year.
• A total of 15,621 credits were attempted throughout the academic year and a total of 15,054 were successfully completed for a 96% completion rate.
• Baseball and volleyball received NCAA APR Public Recognition Awards. This was the second straight year the volleyball team was honored and the first time for the baseball.
• The volleyball team posted a perfect 1,000 single-year APR rate.
• All athletic programs had a multi-year APR rate above 940.
• Seven different teams equaled or exceeded their best multi-year APR score.
• The federal graduation rate for Eastern Michigan student-athletes was 64%, which tied the highest mark from 2009-10 and is a 4% improvement over the previous year.
• The Graduation Success Rate for Eastern Michigan student-athletes is 77%, which is another record set by the student-athletes.
• Football’s Cy Maughmer and Women’s Soccer’s Stephanie Clarke were presented the MAC’s Medal of Excellence Award.
• Eastern Michigan had 39 student-athletes recognized for Academic All-MAC honors and 56 additional student-athletes earned honorable mention accolades.
• A total of eight student-athletes were selected for the prestigious weekly MAC Scholar Athlete Award.
• Three student-athletes earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors.

EMU Athletic Summary (2013-14):
• Eastern Michigan claimed MAC men’s titles in cross country and outdoor track and field, while the men’s swimming and diving team finished as MAC runner-ups.
• Women’s soccer won the MAC regular season championship
• Volleyball played in the MAC Tournament Championship game for the first time since 1990.
• 24 individual MAC titles were won in track and field and swimming and diving. A total of 34 student-athletes on to the NCAA Championships.
• A total of 64 student-athletes earned All-MAC honors (39-first team; 21-second team; 4-third team).
• Eastern Michigan student-athletes were recognized on 49 occasions for Player of the Week accolades in 19 of 21 sports.
• Three coaches earned MAC Coach of the Year, including John Goodridge (Men’s Cross Country and Men’s Outdoor Track and Field), Scott Hall (Women’s Soccer) and Buck Smith (Men’s Swimming and Diving).
• Eight different student-athletes collected MAC Player of the Year honors, including Angela Vultaggio (women’s soccer – offensive), Emily Dzik (women’s soccer – co-defensive), Danielle Hulvey (women’s swimming – most outstanding diver), Sarah Chauchard (women’s indoor track – outstanding field performance), Victoria Voronko (women’s indoor track and women’s outdoor – most valuable performance), Da’Shonte Riley (men’s basketball – defensive) and Tyler Brown (men’s outdoor track – most valuable player). Also, Max Babits and Sarah Chauchard each earned first team All-American honors.
• Men’s basketball qualified for the CollegeInsider.com Tournament en route to winning 22 games. The total was the most since the 1996-97 season, while also making its way to the MAC Tournament Semifinals for the first time since 1997-98.
• Men’s basketball also earned the NCAA Statistical Championship for field goal percentage defense. The Eagles held teams to just a 36.9 field goal percentage. Eastern Michigan allowed opponents to score just 61.4 points per contest, which was 16th in the nation, while blocking the 10th most shots per contest at six per game.
• Women’s basketball tied for 17th nationally of most improved Division I programs. The Eagles finished 18-14 with an increase of 10 wins and a nine-game improvement in overall record. The one-year turnaround is the second largest in program history.
• Women’s basketball player Cha Sweeney was selected as the MAC’s Freshman of the Year, along with earning Second Team All-MAC honors and All-Freshman Team accolades. Sweeney shattered the school all-time freshman scoring record and finished three points shy of the MAC freshman scoring record.
• Volleyball’s Paige Roback became just the seventh Eagle to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs, while Erin Short was the fifth student-athlete in school history to notch 1,000 kills and 300 block assists. Short was also the first-ever non-middle blocker to accomplish this feat.
• EMU had the highest finish in the NACDA Directors’ Cup in the MAC finishing the year in 135th place with 116 points.

EMU Citizenship Summary (2013-14):
• During the 2013-14 academic year approximately 2,000 volunteer hours were served by Eastern Michigan student-athletes.
• The Athletics Department started a new initiative with the 2nd & 7 Foundation’s ‘Tackling Illiteracy’ program. In total, six different Ypsilanti elementary schools were visited by over 200 Eastern Michigan student-athletes, including 24 second grade classrooms and over 700 second grade students were provided books through the Foundation.
• The annual Jock Jamz, a student-athlete talent show, raised $950 for the Ypsilanti Community Schools Foundation.
• The SAAC also spearheaded an effort to support the Angel Tree Program with the local Salvation Army to deliver gifts for children during the holidays.
• The football team participated in the first annual EMU Victory Day on June 27th. The coaches and student-athletes hosted 22 cognitively and physically impaired children at Rynearson Stadium. The children participated in football related activities and presented a medal at the end of the day.
• The women’s soccer team deemed their Sept. 22 match as Cancer Awareness Day, as over $5,000 was raised and donated to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
• The softball and women’s golf teams visited the Ann Arbor VA Hospital and delivered Valentine’s Day cards.
• The wrestling team purchased all of the supplies and ingredients to serve dinner to approximately 40 people at the Ronald McDonald House in Ann Arbor.
• The women’s swimming team made and donated blankets to children at Mott Hospital.
• The women’s gymnastics team participated in the ‘Get Off Your Glass’ community outreach event where they cleaned up school playgrounds and parks in the community.
• The women’s basketball team spent time at Glacier Hills Retirement Home and with the local Special Olympics.
• Eastern Michigan sponsored and hosted the American Heart Association Hear Walk on May 10, 2014. Many teams participated in the 5K walk to raise money and awareness for heart disease. As a University, over 4,000 participated and raised over $33,000 for the Heart Association which surpassed our participation and fundraising goals.

Source: http://www.emueagles.com/news/2014/8/28/GEN_0828145922.aspx?path=gen

The UNCW men’s and women’s basketball teams capped a busy offseason recently by volunteering at Wilmington’s Brigade Boys and Girls Club on its annual field day.

The event is held each year late in the summer and brings the community’s youth together for a fun-filled day of outside activities.

The Seahawk student-athletes worked at different activity stations, helping and interacting with the children. The kids played traditional games like sack races, balloon toss and dizzy bat races.

Angie Hill, director of marketing and development at the club, said 250 boys and girls attended the field day this year

“We appreciate the student-athletes spending their time to help out,” Hill said. “It’s good for the kids to see the student-athletes giving back to the community and being role models. It starts their thought processes about higher education.”

During the 2013-14 school year, UNCW student-athletes completed more than 8,000 community service hours. Head women’s basketball coach Adell Harris said giving back to the community is an integral part of the athletic program.

“It’s vital for us to contribute back to this community in some way,” Harris said. “It really is the most important thing we do as a program.”

The women’s basketball team volunteers in some capacity at least once a month.

“This is part of our culture,” Harris continued. “We are a service program and I’m a service coach. I serve the students, and at the same time, they have a service responsibility as well. It’s ingrained in who we are.”

The women’s basketball team is involved with several different local organizations in Wilmington and also hopes to start a reading program in the near future.

Source: http://portcitydaily.com/2014/08/31/sports-seahawk-student-athletes-give-back-to-brigade-boys-and-girls-club/

WICHITA, Kan. – Many of the Wichita State athletic teams, student-athletes and coaches completed the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge during the last couple of weeks and donated money to the ALS Association.

The challenge involves people getting doused with buckets of ice water on video, posting that video to social media, then nominating others to do the same, all in an effort to raise ALS awareness. People can either accept the challenge or make a donation to an ALS Charity of their choice, or do both.

As of Friday, August 22, The ALS Association has received $53.3. million in donations compared to $2.2 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 21). These donations have come from existing donors and 1.1 million new donors to The Association.

Wichita State Athletics has set up a web page to donate to the ALS at http://webkwc.alsa.org/site/TR?px=4799428&fr_id=10165&pg=personal#.U_dNMEiLmcY.

The money that is donated here, will go toward the Wichita Walk to Defeat ALS®. This is an exciting opportunity for us to work together to support those affected by Lou Gehrig’s Disease and to spread awareness of the urgency to find treatments and a cure.

With your help, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of people affected by this disease. We encourage you to get your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers involved in this challenge!

Men’s Basketball

Baseball

Softball & Director of Athletics Eric Sexton

Women’s Basketball

Volleyball

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