Assistant Sports Editor
For the seventh time in eight years, Springfield College was recognized with an award of merit from the Jostens/NADIIIAA committee for community service. The award came in the array of projects category and is the result of over 2,800 hours of community service by 700 of Springfield’s student-athletes.
This award serves notice that the Humanics philosophy SC holds so dear is not just something in the mission statement, but something that students and faculty live out on a daily basis.
“I think it really is that we are living the mission, in terms of going out in the community and providing leadership opportunities, and our student-athletes are invested in it,” aid Director of Athletics, Dr. Cathie Schweitzer.
The award, which is based on the 2010-11 school year, recognizes the school for participation in over 40 separate service projects. These projects range from simple acts of kindness, such as the women’s cross country team helping first-year students move into their dorms, to larger outreach programs like men’s basketball coach Charlie Brock’s “Dream to Read” program.
Many teams simply used their talents to raise awareness. The women’s tennis, soccer, volleyball and field hockey teams, along with the football team, dedicated home contests last October to raising awareness for breast cancer and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the largest breast cancer foundation in the United States.
The wrestling team’s “Headlock for Hunger,” the volleyball team’s “Digging 4 Numbers” and the gymnastics team’s “Tumble for Teal” also fit into that category, as they hosted annual events to raise money and awareness for different causes.
Tristan Irish, the AmeriCorps representative for the Athletic Department, was the one tasked with filling out the nomination form that would ultimately bring the award home.
“The student-athletes are attracted to the school because they can play sports, but also because of the philosophy,” said Irish. “They are like every other student in terms of their commitment to community service.”
For the athletes at Springfield College, their service does not stop on Humanics in Action Day. There was at least one program happening on or around campus during every month of the school year.
Due to the fact that most of these programs are annual and happen every year, the school is in position to win the award yet again. Many events have already happened this year and are planned in the coming weeks that will continue the tradition of service.
This coming weekend, the men’s and women’s basketball teams will be hosting games dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness. The women will take on WPI Saturday at noon, followed by the men hosting MIT.
On Feb. 11, several members of the Pride’s women’s teams will host National Girls and Women in Sport Day right here on campus.
With all of good work Springfield student-athletes are doing, it is not hard to imagine an eighth award in nine years around this time next year.
Jimmy Kelley may be reached at jkelley@springfieldcollege.edu