WASHINGTON, DC – University of the District of Columbia took part in the East Coast Conference’s “Team Up to Clean Up” initiative as over 30 Firebird student-athletes helped clean the streets surrounding the UDC Van Ness campus on a beautiful fall morning in the nation’s capital on Friday, October 17th.
Several men’s lacrosse players and the entire women’s lacrosse, men’s basketball and men’s and women’s tennis teams were all divided into groups and assigned a particular area to pick up trash. Women’s lacrosse broke up into two groups and picked up trash on both sides of Brandywine and Albemarle streets; men’s basketball, with assistance from head coach Mike Riley, cleaned up Yuma St.; and men’s and women’s tennis and men’s lacrosse cleaned up near the Soapstone Valley Park trail.
“We are very proud of the work these wonderful student-athletes did on Friday morning, and for the example they are setting for young people throughout Washington DC,” Director of Athletics Patricia Thomas said. “It is important to serve the community, and this event provided our student-athletes the opportunity to enhance the beauty of Northwest DC. They did a phenomenal job.”
According to East Coast Conference Commissioner Dr. Robert Dranoff, the Team Up to Clean Up initiative is a reminder of the impact each individual school can have at its respective community.
“Our student-athletes and athletic departments are role models, I believe, in their efforts to help others,” Dranoff said. “We are all proud of the work they do, and the impact they make in building relationships and partnerships with their communities.”
