One of the highlights of this past week's AMCC Athletic Management Council Meeting was the conference's announcement of the 2019 Community Service Awards. This tradition brings awareness to the wonderful community service projects our student-athletes, coaches, and administrators have been working hard on all year. There were two categories in which winners were chosen -- One Time Events and Array of Events.
Array of Events
GOLD LEVEL
Penn State Altoona SAAC and members of the women’s tennis, volleyball, bowling and men’s basketball teams: This group of 50 student-athletes, led by AMCC national SAAC rep Cameron Gardner-Nicholson, partnered with the Blair County Special Olympics as part of the NCAA Div. III 50 for 50 Campaign, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics. They organized six different events on and off campus connecting with more than 90 Special Olympians in the sports of tennis, volleyball, bowling and basketball. They were twice nominated for the D3 Special Olympics Event of the Month.
SILVER LEVEL
Penn St. Behrend Men’s Volleyball Team: The team participated in three different community service events covering each sport season this past year. They started with a community beach and roadway clean up at Presque Isle State Park in the fall; followed by painting and renovating the Erie Humane Society animal shelter during the winter; and wrapped up with assisting at the Special Olympics track meet hosted at Behrend in the spring. All told the 18 team members and coaches contributed approximately 200 hours of community service this past year.
BRONZE LEVEL
Franciscan University Softball Team: The planned and coordinated a softball game and Halloween Party for Miracle League kids, who are children with special needs in the Steubenville community. They also raised approximately $1,000 in various fundraising activities to benefit a former member of the team and her family to help cover expenses related to an accident that left her paralyzed.
Single Events
GOLD LEVEL
Medaille Baseball Team: The baseball team raised nearly $8,000 in a Going Bald for Bucks event, with 30 players and coaches shaving their heads in exchange for donations. This set a record for most money raised by a collegiate sports team for this event. The proceeds benefited Roswell Park Cancer Institute for nationally recognized research and treatment programs.
SILVER LEVEL
Pitt-Greensburg M&W Basketball Teams: The two teams partnered in an effort to first solicit local businesses for donations and then pack and distribute more than 100 specially designed tote bags to benefit patients receiving chemo therapy at UPMC Children’s Hospital and the Arnold Palmer Cancer Center. The 35 student-athletes and coaches raised more than $4,500 to purchase and fill the bags with needed supplies.
Pitt-Bradford Athletic Dept.: 203 student-athletes and staff members of the athletic department donated more than 500 community service hours this past spring to training area Special Olympians and then hosting the Special Olympics Swim Meet for participants from four different counties at the campus aquatics center in March. The Olympians were competing to qualify for the state level games in early June.
Mount Aloysius M&W Soccer Teams: For the fourth consecutive year, 35 student-athletes and coaches from the Mount Aloysius men's and women's soccer teams spent a weekend working with the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority. The team's main project was helping with the setup, execution and cleanup of Downtown Johnstown's Easter Egg Extravaganza, where they helped more than 200 kids with the Easter egg hunt, an Easter egg dying station and with planting flowers. A portion of the team helped with cleanup on the streets in the area as well as the Iron Street Trail.
BRONZE LEVEL
D’Youville M&W Basketball Teams: M&W basketball teams worked together to sell t-shirts at a Veterans Day doubleheader specially designated as Military Appreciation Night, raising more than $500 which were donated to the campus’ Student Veteran Association. DYC is recognized as one of the best institutions in the country for attracting and supporting veterans to achieve their degrees.
La Roche Women’s Volleyball Team: Raised money and spirits by providing an Easter Bunny Brunch for the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. The institute provides pediatric rehabilitation and therapy services, and includes a private day school and adoption services, which benefit children, families and the community. The event involved more than 400 volunteer hours as they conducted arts and crafts activities, an Easter egg hunt and a visit by the Easter Bunny. They also held a raffle which raised $950.