Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Women's Hoops Team at Army Wins V Foundation Award

The Army women's basketball team was named the recipient of the seventh annual V Foundation Comeback Award, presented annually by the V Foundation for Cancer Research in collaboration with ESPN. ESPN will make the official announcement Tuesday evening between the semifinal games of the men's National Invitational Tournament.

The annual award is open to men and women collegiate basketball student-athletes in all NCAA divisions. It is awarded to an individual or a team who has accomplished a personal triumph in the face of true adversity, be it in health, life or moral dilemma.

Just 17 days after Army's Cinderella run to its first Division I NCAA Tournament appearance, the Army women's basketball team suffered a devastating loss when 28-year-old head coach Maggie Dixon died suddenly last April. The 2006-07 squad faced a daunting emotional challenge not only to follow in Dixon's footsteps, but to keep her memory alive while still moving forward.

Army head coach Dave Magarity, who served as the associate head coach to Dixon on the 2005-06 Army team, took over the reins of the program this past season and led the Black Knights to a 24-6 season record, setting a school record for wins at the Division I level.

Click here to read more about how the Army women overcame tragedy and put together an outstanding season in this release on the Patriot League official website.

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

C of C's Hedley Receives Scholarship Grant

The Family Circle Cup Community Outreach program is all about making a difference in the community. In 2002, the tournament started a scholarship grant at the College of Charleston for female student athletes who not only excel on the playing field, but off as well. Every year $5,000 is donated to an outstanding female athlete who is a well-rounded student, and whose accomplishments include giving back to the community. The scholarship winner is selected based on a number of criteria including academic accomplishment, volunteerism / community involvement, financial need, and athletic accolades. This year’s winner is sophomore Katie Hedley, a member of the College of Charleston’s Women’s Cross Country and Track teams.

Click here to read about this special student-athlete in the press release on the Southern Conference's official website.

Monday, April 02, 2007

Syracuse Salutes Athletics' Comunity Outreach

From the Syracuse official athletic website:

The Syracuse athletics department’s ‘Cuse Cares Community Outreach program and senior football student-athlete Kelvin Smith will be recognized for their commitment to engagement with the community and Scholarship in Action with the 2007 Chancellor's Awards for Public Engagement and Scholarship in a March 26 celebration dinner in the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center's Goldstein Auditorium. It marks the 10th consecutive year that Orange student-athletes have earned the CAPS Award.

“We ask our student-athletes to be extraordinary on and off the field,” said Director of Athletics Dr. Daryl Gross. “Community service is an area in which we strive to be the best. There are numerous hours and substantive areas that our coaches and student-athletes commit to yearly. We are proud of their service and their commitment to this community and beyond.”

The ‘Cuse Cares program is one of 14 University programs that will be recognized for service in the community. SU student-athletes participated in more than 1,200 hours of community service projects since the start of the 2006-2007 academic year in a variety of activities that enriched the lives of children, elderly, homeless, and many more individuals.

Smith, a four-year starting linebacker for the Orange football squad, developed and implemented a leadership skills group at Dr. King Elementary School with eight African-American boys. Smith designed and conducted the workshops with the children in the areas of creating leaders, leadership and health, leadership in sports and the rhythm of leaders.

Throughout the year, Syracuse student-athletes dedicated time to school fundraisers, youth clinics, Boys and Girls Clubs activities, preparing gifts during the holiday time for children, and Winterfest activities for kids. Student-athletes also spent many hours reaching out to young refugees in the area.

At the annual SUccess By Six kickoff at the Dome student-athletes from six teams collected 400 books and more than $300 for area children before a basketball game. Ten Orange teams participated in the annual Dollar Days at the Dome and raised more than $7,100 for the United Way.

Student-athletes also participated in many fundraising events, including the Breast Cancer walk-a-thon, a walk for kidney disease, and the Relay for Life at the Carrier Dome, and assisted in projects that benefit underprivileged individuals, including serving breakfast at the Rescue Mission and volunteering at the Oxford Homeless shelter. In addition, student-athletes visted with residents at The Oaks retirement center, the Ida Benderson Senior Center and the pediatric units at local hospitals, and participated in the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics and cheering on the athletes competing in their winter game events. Other activities include participation in Take Back the Night, building houses for Habitat for Humanity, activities at Head Start, and reading books for a reading awareness program at a local middle school. The annual Shooting for A’s program, an academic enrichment program which features opportunities to participate in group sports and meet student-athletes, begins next month.

“This year's nominations are remarkable, clearly demonstrating that civic engagement is not simply something students do, but has become an essential part of who we, and SU, are,” said Pamela Kirwin Heintz, the director of the Mary Ann Shaw Center for Public and Community Service.

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Tucker Wins Senior CLASS Award

Described by his coach as a college basketball player that “epitomizes the pure student athlete,” Wisconsin forward Alando Tucker is the 2006-07 winner of the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for men’s basketball. The award, selected by a nationwide vote of coaches, media and fans, is presented annually to college basketball’s outstanding NCAA Division I senior student athlete.

Tucker put together a brilliant senior season at Wisconsin, earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors in a powerhouse conference that was among the nation’s toughest. He averaged 19.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while leading the Badgers to a 30-6 record and top ten national ranking. By pouring in a school-record 716 points as a senior, Tucker became Wisconsin’s all-time leading career scorer with 2,217 points.

While he clearly excelled on the court, Tucker also has exemplified the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award off-the-court criteria with character, the classroom and the community. The communications major has a 3.5 GPA in his major and expects to graduate in May 2007. He serves as the men’s basketball representative on the Wisconsin’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was the school’s delegate to the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Conference last year.

Click here to read more about this outstanding student-athlete and the Senior CLASS award from the official press release.