Jan. 22, 2002
Stony Brook, N.Y. -
The Stony Brook Seawolves, led by the members of the Student Athlete Council, have made giving back to the community a priority in 2001-2002. The council voted to require all Seawolves athletic teams to complete a minimum of four community service projects each year. The student-athletes and coaches embraced this idea, participating at greater levels than ever before during the fall of 2001.
The first event of the year was the annual breast cancer awareness raising and research fund-raiser, the Walk For Beauty in Stony Brook Village on Sept. 30. The students didn't allow the unseasonably chilly morning freeze their spirit and enthusiasm as they cheered on the walkers and provided them with course directions and water. More than 50 athletes from the softball, women's and men's basketball and lacrosse teams participated.
Members of the baseball, tennis and softball teams provided assistance for the university and athletic communities in the homecoming tent, setting up tables, painting faces and leading children's games among other tasks at the annual homecoming football game.
The following weekend, the softball, baseball, women's basketball and the men's and newly formed women's lacrosse teams pitched in to run carnival games at the Seawolves fan fest. The swim team also dove into action that day to distribute child identification kits at the football game. The baseball team pitched in for a full day of assistance at the American Heart Association's annual walk from Suffolk Community College on October 21st.
The women's soccer, volleyball, baseball and football teams finished the semester with a fun-filled afternoon at the Stony Brook Child Care Center. They answered questions from the children and led them in games, including ring around the rosy with the Seawolves football team. The most heartwarming part of all the events was the community response and appreciation for the students.
All the teams felt the need to respond in some way to the crisis following 9/11. The council initiated a fund raising campaign that included the "sale" of flag stickers and 50/50 raffle tickets. $1500 was raised, a portion of which was donated to Stony Brook Responds. The father of a former athlete at Stony Brook was lost in the tragedy at the World Trade Center. The remaining funds will be donated to assist the family or to commemorate his life.
Perhaps the best part of these service events has been the reaction of Stony Brook's student-athletes, in some ways they have taken more from the initiatives than the community participants do.
The Student Athlete Council will receive an award from the National Consortium for Academics & Sport for outstanding initiatives in community service. The award will be presented at the Consortium's annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., in February.
