NEW ORLEANS – Mother Nature tried to put a damper on things, but Tulane’s student-athletes would not let a little rain ruin their day as over 60 Green Wave student-athletes held a health and wellness fair on Friday, July 24 for the youth of the Greater New Orleans area.
Local camps from around the area bused children in to spend time with the Green Wave student-athletes on the Tulane campus.
With rain pouring down for the first hour of the event held on Tulane’s LBC Quad, many of the student-athletes and campers took refuge inside the LBC, where the Green Wave student-athletes provided healthy snacks – like grapes and pineapple – for the youngsters.
Once the skies cleared up, everyone returned to the LBC Quad, where races were staged, water gun battles were held and a variety of other activities took place. A slew of inflatable obstacle courses and toys peppered the LBC Quad, allowing the children to have a blast while being active.
In addition to the fun had by all, the Green Wave student-athletes had the opportunity to chat with the children about the importance of proper nutrition and exercise.
“If happiness is what we are truly after, we must seek healthy relationships and habits to support our quest,” stated Academic Student Services Center for Student-Athletes assistant Israel Route.
Those student-athletes that participated included women’s basketball’s Danielle Blagg, Tiffany Dale, Caylah Cruickshank, Kolby Morgan, Adesuwa Ebomwonyi, Jamie Kaplan, Morgan Rogers, Paije Hall and Tierra Jones, swimming and diving’s Lauren Arnold, Jonna Frantz and Claire Schelske, track and field’s Daliadiz Ortiz and Estefany Cruz, men’s basketball’s Jay Hook, Keith Pinckney, Dylan Osetkowski, Josh Hearlihy and Cameron Reynolds, football’s Devon Powell, Darion Monroe, Lorenzo Doss, Sherman Badie, Tyler Gilbert, Nathan Shienle, Brandon LeBeau, Tanzel Smart, Parry Nickerson, Eric Thomas, Eric Bell, Leonard Davis, Quinlan Carroll, Rob Kelley, Andre Robinson, Xavier Rush, Aaron Bryant, Tanner Lee, Marc Edwards, Andrew DiRocco, Logan Hilton, Robert Kennedy, Matthew Bailey, Lazedrick Thompson, Sean Donnelly, Eldrick Washington, Daren Williams, Charles Jones, Justyn Shackleford, Kenneth Santa Marina, Chris Taylor, Devon Johnson, Alex Paul, Peter Woullard, Brandon Godfrey, Royce LaFrance, Eric Bowie, Fletcher Barnes, Dylan Richman, Stephen Lofton and Anthony Taylor, women’s tennis’ Emily Dvorak, Jacqui Katz and Zoe Gaber, men’s tennis’ Ian Van Cott and baseball’s Brady Wilson and Sam Martin.
The health and wellness fair was the final installment in what was a community-service laden summer for many of the Green Wave student-athletes. Each Friday this summer, the Tulane student-athletes ventured out into the Greater New Orleans community in order to improve the lives of those who call this city home.
“This ties into everything we did this summer, as we provided various services around the metropolitan area, touching the lives of many while developing strong relationships in the community,” said Tulane ASC senior academic counselor Charlotte Battiest. “This is what Tulane’s foundation is based upon, and we will continue to nurture and develop the vision of our Director of Athletics, Rick Dickson.”
Over the course of the summer, hundreds of Tulane student-athletes spent countless hours performing community service with a variety of local non-profit organizations, such as KIPP Believe, the Second Harvest Food Bank, the Tulane Cancer Center, the NFL Youth Education Town, the New Orleans Museum of Art, Bridge/Grace House, Youth Rebuilding New Orleans, Children’s Hospital New Orleans, Green Light New Orleans, the St. Paul’s Homecoming Center. Some Tulane student-athletes even participated in community service on and around Tulane’s Uptown campus.
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