Seven Lehigh student-athletes are involved in an extensive community service project through a new organization called Student-Athletes Leading Social Change. As part of this year's SALSC initiative, student-athletes from around the nation are adopting and raising money for underdeveloped Ecuadorian villages. One way Lehigh is raising funds is through an all-day Phone-A-Thon this Thursday (Feb. 3) in the University Center.
Two leaders at each school are chosen to spearhead the fundraising efforts. For Lehigh, it's Jessica Miller (field hockey) and Angelo DiGiacinto (men's swimming), while Erica Prosser (women's basketball), Katey Fardelmann (field hockey), Alyssa Donahue (women's track), Anna Patterson (women's lacrosse) and Liz Lucas (softball) are also heavily involved and have been working on the project for months.
"I've always been interested in helping people," said Miller. "From something small, to helping a friend out, to doing something on a global scale such as this, I feel like it's what I was meant to do. Until a few years ago, I didn't realize that my passion for helping people could become a career. Organizations like SALSC make me realize that I can do this for the rest of my life."
This comes one year after Prosser spearheaded an initiative to raise funds and build a school in Kenya. Last summer, she went to a small village and helped build a school for the local community. She spent 10 days there and along with 14 other student-athletes from SALSC, constructed a school using sand, cement, water and bricks.
"I have been a part of several community initiatives such as SALSC, but none have been more meaningful to me than this," said DiGiacinto. "Erica did such an amazing job last year, and Jess and I are working especially hard to continue her tradition. SALSC has grown tremendously at Lehigh since last year, and we hope it continues to every year. My goal is to show the Lehigh community that SALSC is a committed group of students who wish to make a global change."
This year's SALSC initiative is to adopt villages in Old Quito, Ecuador and raise money to build and furnish schools in those villages. Led by Miller and DiGiacinto, the Mountain Hawks are holding a "Jail Bail" Phone-A-Thon this Thursday (Feb. 3) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the University Center Room 308. Everyone - especially Lehigh students, faculty and staff - are invited to "jail." The "prisoners" will have to "bail themselves out" by calling friends, family, alumni and local businesses to ask for donations.
Lehigh's goal is to raise $17,500 by Mar. 1. That would enable the group to build a school and send three student-athletes to Ecuador to help build it.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Patriot League official website.
Showing posts with label Encouragement From Campus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Encouragement From Campus. Show all posts
February 12, 2011
February 11, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-Knox Students Donate, Help Feed Local Schoolchildren
he generosity of Knox College students is helping to feed Galesburg schoolchildren during their extended winter break this year.
Knox students have donated 1,576 "meal swipes" from their college meal plans to provide meals for schoolchildren through the Lunch Spot, a communitywide initiative. Each "meal swipe" translates into one sack lunch for a Galesburg School District 205 student.
The Lunch Spot program, which involves numerous sponsors and volunteers, is supplying lunches for children during the final two weeks of the 2010-2011 winter break. The school district scheduled the longer break as a cost-cutting move.
Contributions from Knox students will provide nearly all of the lunches for schoolchildren the week of Jan. 10-14.
"It's a phenomenal thing the students have done," said Rhonda Brady, executive director of the Knox County Area Project, a Lunch Spot sponsor. "The Knox lunch donation is huge for us."
"Knox students want to be a part of the community and help the community," she added.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Knox College official web site.
Knox students have donated 1,576 "meal swipes" from their college meal plans to provide meals for schoolchildren through the Lunch Spot, a communitywide initiative. Each "meal swipe" translates into one sack lunch for a Galesburg School District 205 student.
The Lunch Spot program, which involves numerous sponsors and volunteers, is supplying lunches for children during the final two weeks of the 2010-2011 winter break. The school district scheduled the longer break as a cost-cutting move.
Contributions from Knox students will provide nearly all of the lunches for schoolchildren the week of Jan. 10-14.
"It's a phenomenal thing the students have done," said Rhonda Brady, executive director of the Knox County Area Project, a Lunch Spot sponsor. "The Knox lunch donation is huge for us."
"Knox students want to be a part of the community and help the community," she added.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Knox College official web site.
February 10, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-Galludent's Women's Hoops Can't Hear, Just Win
A coach battling Parkinson's Disease working with a women's college basketball team that can't hear hardly sound like a winning combination, but it's working at Gallaudet College, where at the time of this report the team was 16-0! Here's a report from CBS Evening News via Gallaudet's official web site.
February 9, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-Chico State Helps Make-A-Wish Foundation
Mason is just nine years old and suffers from X-Linked Myotubular Muscular Dystrophy. He was one of many children hoping to have his wish granted through the good people at the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Unfortunately, there are more kids with wishes than there are the funds to make those dreams come true.
And that’s where the student-athletes of Chico State stepped in.
The money came in small amounts--$20 here, $20 there—but after two-plus years of bake sales, raffles and dodgeball tournaments the Chico State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) reached its goal of $5,000.
It’s an amount that will help make Mason’s wish come true.
Click here to read the rest of the story at the California Collegiate Athletic Association's official website.
And that’s where the student-athletes of Chico State stepped in.
The money came in small amounts--$20 here, $20 there—but after two-plus years of bake sales, raffles and dodgeball tournaments the Chico State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) reached its goal of $5,000.
It’s an amount that will help make Mason’s wish come true.
Click here to read the rest of the story at the California Collegiate Athletic Association's official website.
February 8, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-Kansas State Helps Provide Books for University in Iraq
Kansas State University is supplying stacks of textbooks to help rebuild Iraq.
K-State is partnering with the Manhattan-based nonprofit Help Us Learn ... Give us Hope to provide textbooks to Iraq's Basrah University. The books will help train a new generation of professionals, including engineers and agricultural business leaders.
Post-war Iraq doesnUt have enough teaching materials and textbooks for its students, according to the United Nations, and about 5 million Iraqi citizens are illiterate.
K-State President Kirk Schulz and other university administrators visited Iraq in November as guests of Fort Riley's 1st Infantry Division. One of those administrators was Art DeGroat, director of military affairs at K-State and a retired Army lieutenant colonel.
"While we went to Iraq as a developmental activity that contributed to our military partnership, we discovered an opportunity to help, and that is simply what K-Staters do," DeGroat said.
Basrah University was once a crown jewel in the higher education system of the Middle East, DeGroat said.
"During our visit we discovered years of atrophy and neglect, but we also met committed, brave and persistent university leaders hoping for a brighter day," he said. "K-State wants, in some small way, to be part of this new dawn for Basrah University and its students."
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Kansas State University official web site.
K-State is partnering with the Manhattan-based nonprofit Help Us Learn ... Give us Hope to provide textbooks to Iraq's Basrah University. The books will help train a new generation of professionals, including engineers and agricultural business leaders.
Post-war Iraq doesnUt have enough teaching materials and textbooks for its students, according to the United Nations, and about 5 million Iraqi citizens are illiterate.
K-State President Kirk Schulz and other university administrators visited Iraq in November as guests of Fort Riley's 1st Infantry Division. One of those administrators was Art DeGroat, director of military affairs at K-State and a retired Army lieutenant colonel.
"While we went to Iraq as a developmental activity that contributed to our military partnership, we discovered an opportunity to help, and that is simply what K-Staters do," DeGroat said.
Basrah University was once a crown jewel in the higher education system of the Middle East, DeGroat said.
"During our visit we discovered years of atrophy and neglect, but we also met committed, brave and persistent university leaders hoping for a brighter day," he said. "K-State wants, in some small way, to be part of this new dawn for Basrah University and its students."
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Kansas State University official web site.
February 7, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-Alabama State Parters in new Community-Based Youth Program
Alabama State University kicked off the Alabama Family Youth Initiative (AFYI) program Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011. A news conference announcing the program was held at ASU’s John L. Buskey Health Science building.
AFYI is a program which empowers youth to say “no” to drugs, gangs and crime and stay in school.
Dr. Cheryl Plettenberg, chair of the department of Health Information Management in ASU’s College of Health Sciences and AFYI director, said the program’s goal is to work collaboratively with the community to keep youth in school, help them make healthy long-term life decisions graduate from high school, attend college and give back to their community.
The program encourages participation from neighborhood centers, faith-based and community organizations, law enforcement, state and local community leaders, educators and parents.
Dr. Plettenberg started a similar program in Michigan which she said became very successful. She became very emotional as she talked about her vision for AFYI.
“I am so pleased that ASU has allowed me to bring this program. We know that we have a huge drop-out rate in Alabama. It will be our goal to decrease that rate. I have watched over 16,000 children in Michigan turn around their grade point average, go to college and come back and serve their community,” Plettenberg said. “Every child who will be in this program will be given that opportunity. Our goal is to do it through mentoring.”
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Alabama State University official web site.
AFYI is a program which empowers youth to say “no” to drugs, gangs and crime and stay in school.
Dr. Cheryl Plettenberg, chair of the department of Health Information Management in ASU’s College of Health Sciences and AFYI director, said the program’s goal is to work collaboratively with the community to keep youth in school, help them make healthy long-term life decisions graduate from high school, attend college and give back to their community.
The program encourages participation from neighborhood centers, faith-based and community organizations, law enforcement, state and local community leaders, educators and parents.
Dr. Plettenberg started a similar program in Michigan which she said became very successful. She became very emotional as she talked about her vision for AFYI.
“I am so pleased that ASU has allowed me to bring this program. We know that we have a huge drop-out rate in Alabama. It will be our goal to decrease that rate. I have watched over 16,000 children in Michigan turn around their grade point average, go to college and come back and serve their community,” Plettenberg said. “Every child who will be in this program will be given that opportunity. Our goal is to do it through mentoring.”
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Alabama State University official web site.
February 4, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-App State Student's Master Thesis Leads to Aid for Tanzania
Jake Gentry traveled to Tanzania in 2008 to conduct research for his master's thesis about the impact of refugee camps on their host communities. Emotionally touched by the many abandoned children in the camps, Gentry and his friends started a non-profit organization that supports orphanages becoming self-sufficient and sustainable.
"Along with providing sustainable technologies, we want the children to learn about these technologies, how to install them, operate them and maintain them," said Gentry, who earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in geography from Appalachian. He now serves as the organization's president. "We want these children to have unique skills to contribute back to society as the green revolution moves through Africa."
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Appalachian State University official web site.
February 3, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-U of Arkansas Launches a Book Drive to Benefit Local School
The Arkansas Reads program, organized through the office of enrollment services at the University of Arkansas, is launching a drive to collect children's books for students K-5 at Hughes Elementary School in Hughes, in St. Francis County. The university is partnering again this year with Fayetteville High School and the effort is informally known as the "Hawgs and Dawgs program."
This is the second year for the program. A thousand books were collected last year and given to Marvell Elementary in Marvell, in Phillips County.
"The program last year was a wonderful success. The students at Marvell were very excited about the new books. The faculty and the staff there were incredibly supportive, and it was a good experience for everyone — the children who received the books as well as the students here who worked to collect them,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “Sharing an enthusiasm for reading is important to the development of young people everywhere. We want to support the efforts of the teachers and counselors at Hughes by bringing in books that they do not have. These students are Arkansas’ future, and we want to do everything we can to encourage their love for learning.”
Click here to read the rest of the story from the University of Arkansas official web site.
This is the second year for the program. A thousand books were collected last year and given to Marvell Elementary in Marvell, in Phillips County.
"The program last year was a wonderful success. The students at Marvell were very excited about the new books. The faculty and the staff there were incredibly supportive, and it was a good experience for everyone — the children who received the books as well as the students here who worked to collect them,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “Sharing an enthusiasm for reading is important to the development of young people everywhere. We want to support the efforts of the teachers and counselors at Hughes by bringing in books that they do not have. These students are Arkansas’ future, and we want to do everything we can to encourage their love for learning.”
Click here to read the rest of the story from the University of Arkansas official web site.
February 2, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-Wofford's Student-Teacher Star Athlete
By day, Wofford's Noah Dahlman prefers to be called "Mr. D."
It's not a nickname for the reigning Southern Conference Player of the Year, the dominating big man on campus who last season led the Terriers to their first league title and NCAA tournament appearance.
It's not a title bestowed upon the descendant of basketball royalty who was raised on a farm in small-town Minnesota to become a rebounding legend and eventually one of the most relentless scorers in the nation (20.6 ppg).
No, Mr. D. is simply what his students call him. While Dahlman, in his senior year, is leading Wofford at the top of the SoCon South Division standings, he is also spending his final semester in a unique classroom setting, teaching American history to 11th graders at Chesnee (S.C.) High School.
With Noah's picture constantly appearing in the newspaper alongside stories of his heroics, the kids in history class quickly caught on to his alter ego. Even in the old cotton-mill community of Chesnee, anonymity can be hard to come by for Spartanburg's Superman.
"I want to be known as Mr. Dahlman in the classroom," Noah said. "I don't want to be known as a basketball player-teacher -- just as a teacher."
Click here to read the rest of the story from ESPN.com
It's not a nickname for the reigning Southern Conference Player of the Year, the dominating big man on campus who last season led the Terriers to their first league title and NCAA tournament appearance.
It's not a title bestowed upon the descendant of basketball royalty who was raised on a farm in small-town Minnesota to become a rebounding legend and eventually one of the most relentless scorers in the nation (20.6 ppg).
No, Mr. D. is simply what his students call him. While Dahlman, in his senior year, is leading Wofford at the top of the SoCon South Division standings, he is also spending his final semester in a unique classroom setting, teaching American history to 11th graders at Chesnee (S.C.) High School.
With Noah's picture constantly appearing in the newspaper alongside stories of his heroics, the kids in history class quickly caught on to his alter ego. Even in the old cotton-mill community of Chesnee, anonymity can be hard to come by for Spartanburg's Superman.
"I want to be known as Mr. Dahlman in the classroom," Noah said. "I don't want to be known as a basketball player-teacher -- just as a teacher."
Click here to read the rest of the story from ESPN.com
February 1, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-No. Colorado's Devin Betzel thankful for family ties
Her nerves frayed and her stomach flip-flopping, Michellene Lenz approached the front door to Joan Louth's home on Christmas morning.
For years, Lenz had been too embarrassed and ashamed to knock. The house had been her son's refuge, a shelter from a raging storm of a life he didn't create.
And Louth? She'd been the mother Lenz couldn't be to Devon Beitzel.
It was Louth who made Beitzel his breakfast and served him dinner; she checked his homework and doled out the discipline; she listened to his worries and celebrated his accomplishments.
For all of that, Lenz was so grateful.
But she also knew it was because of her own failings that her son needed a place to retreat in the first place.
"It's hard to pick up your face sometimes," Lenz said, pausing and reaching for the right words. "It takes a lot of healing. But this Christmas, oh my gosh, it was phenomenal. I felt so welcome, such a part of everything, and I realized, my gosh, that's his family. They're going to be his family forever. I want to be a part of it, and now I can. I don't have to be embarrassed. My son loves me."
Together and separately, Lenz and Louth have raised themselves quite a man.
Dealt a life predestined for hardship, Beitzel instead carved a path to success. He is the leading scorer (18.6 ppg) for a Northern Colorado team that stands atop the Big Sky standings, undefeated in the league at 7-0.
Click here to read the rest of the story at ESPN.com
For years, Lenz had been too embarrassed and ashamed to knock. The house had been her son's refuge, a shelter from a raging storm of a life he didn't create.
And Louth? She'd been the mother Lenz couldn't be to Devon Beitzel.
It was Louth who made Beitzel his breakfast and served him dinner; she checked his homework and doled out the discipline; she listened to his worries and celebrated his accomplishments.
For all of that, Lenz was so grateful.
But she also knew it was because of her own failings that her son needed a place to retreat in the first place.
"It's hard to pick up your face sometimes," Lenz said, pausing and reaching for the right words. "It takes a lot of healing. But this Christmas, oh my gosh, it was phenomenal. I felt so welcome, such a part of everything, and I realized, my gosh, that's his family. They're going to be his family forever. I want to be a part of it, and now I can. I don't have to be embarrassed. My son loves me."
Together and separately, Lenz and Louth have raised themselves quite a man.
Dealt a life predestined for hardship, Beitzel instead carved a path to success. He is the leading scorer (18.6 ppg) for a Northern Colorado team that stands atop the Big Sky standings, undefeated in the league at 7-0.
Click here to read the rest of the story at ESPN.com
January 31, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-Coaches vs. Canter Suits & Sneakers
From college and high school basketball, an important event that happened last weekend:
It's the weekend when some well-dressed -- and some not so well-dressed -- college basketball coaches wear sneakers to show their support for the American Cancer Society.
The seventh annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend is an initiative of the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches that has coaches, their teams and local communities trying to make a difference in the fight against cancer.
Coaches vs. Cancer participants have raised more than $60 million since 1993 to help the American Cancer Society fund groundbreaking cancer research, provide up-to-date cancer information and education, advocate for public health policies that benefit communities, and deliver services that improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the NCAA official website
It's the weekend when some well-dressed -- and some not so well-dressed -- college basketball coaches wear sneakers to show their support for the American Cancer Society.
The seventh annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend is an initiative of the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches that has coaches, their teams and local communities trying to make a difference in the fight against cancer.
Coaches vs. Cancer participants have raised more than $60 million since 1993 to help the American Cancer Society fund groundbreaking cancer research, provide up-to-date cancer information and education, advocate for public health policies that benefit communities, and deliver services that improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the NCAA official website
January 28, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-Oklahoma's Carter Wins Wooden Citizenship Cup
Oklahoma safety Quinton Carter has been named the recipient of the seventh annual Wooden Citizenship Cup. The award is presented annually by the Atlanta-based Athletes For a Better World.
he Las Vegas native has served the SOUL Organization, Norman Kindercare, the Oklahoma City Marathon, the University Center for Student Advancement and the OU Black Graduate Student Association.
The Wooden Cup is named in honor of John Wooden, the late UCLA basketball coaching legend. The cup recognizes those athletes whose character represents the highest and best in sport, and who make the greatest difference in the lives of others.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Big !2 Conference official website.
he Las Vegas native has served the SOUL Organization, Norman Kindercare, the Oklahoma City Marathon, the University Center for Student Advancement and the OU Black Graduate Student Association.
The Wooden Cup is named in honor of John Wooden, the late UCLA basketball coaching legend. The cup recognizes those athletes whose character represents the highest and best in sport, and who make the greatest difference in the lives of others.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Big !2 Conference official website.
January 27, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-U of Akron students make most of service opportunities
At this time last year, Jenna Buffa had no experience with a paintbrush, hammer or any type of saw — but you should see her now.
She was among the 110 students who helped to rebuild several homes in the Gulf Coast communities of Acadiana and Calcasieu during the University’s alternative spring break in 2010. Since the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, UA has annually organized a trip for students who want to assist in the region’s relief efforts
.
“I was hesitant to sign up at first, because I knew nothing about construction,” recalls Buffa, a speech language pathology major who will graduate in May. “But I went for it and it turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever done. I helped rebuild a home for a family, and I learned how lucky I am to have all that I have.”
Click here to read the rest of the story from the U of Akron's official web site.
She was among the 110 students who helped to rebuild several homes in the Gulf Coast communities of Acadiana and Calcasieu during the University’s alternative spring break in 2010. Since the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, UA has annually organized a trip for students who want to assist in the region’s relief efforts
.
“I was hesitant to sign up at first, because I knew nothing about construction,” recalls Buffa, a speech language pathology major who will graduate in May. “But I went for it and it turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever done. I helped rebuild a home for a family, and I learned how lucky I am to have all that I have.”
Click here to read the rest of the story from the U of Akron's official web site.
January 26, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-LIU's Julian Boyd bounces back from heart condition
One minute Julian Boyd was playing a pickup game near his home in San Antonio, Texas, schooling friends on the finer points of basketball and contemplating how he could build on his Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year campaign at LIU the previous season.
The next minute Boyd was on his way to the hospital as minor cramping became unbearable pain. At the emergency room, the news came at Boyd in waves. He remembers lots of IVs, the cramping engulfing his body and doctors telling him and his father that his kidneys were failing, but no one knew why.
Following a battery of tests - "there were so many I lost count," Boyd said - the diagnosis was noncompaction cardiomyopathy. In short, Boyd's blood was not circulating properly in his heart. Doctors told him while the condition was treatable, there was a strong probability there would be no encore to his sensational rookie season.
The next minute Boyd was on his way to the hospital as minor cramping became unbearable pain. At the emergency room, the news came at Boyd in waves. He remembers lots of IVs, the cramping engulfing his body and doctors telling him and his father that his kidneys were failing, but no one knew why.
Following a battery of tests - "there were so many I lost count," Boyd said - the diagnosis was noncompaction cardiomyopathy. In short, Boyd's blood was not circulating properly in his heart. Doctors told him while the condition was treatable, there was a strong probability there would be no encore to his sensational rookie season.
January 25, 2011
Encouragement From Campus-Cal-Irvine students honored for work in Honduras
Honduras is experiencing an influx of Anteaters, thanks to UC Irvine's Global Brigades program, and needy communities there are grateful.
In the town of Joyas de Carballo, students work with locals to install eco-stoves, latrines, water storage units and concrete floors.
The low-cost projects help prevent respiratory diseases and other illnesses spread by poor hygiene, says Nazreena Abulkalam, a student in public health sciences and international studies (since graduated).
Click here to read the story from the school's web site.
In the town of Joyas de Carballo, students work with locals to install eco-stoves, latrines, water storage units and concrete floors.
The low-cost projects help prevent respiratory diseases and other illnesses spread by poor hygiene, says Nazreena Abulkalam, a student in public health sciences and international studies (since graduated).
Click here to read the story from the school's web site.
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