St. John's University Athletics
Student-Athletes Participate In Sixth-Annual University Service Day
9/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
Sept. 25, 2007
QUEENS, N.Y. -
On Saturday Sept. 22, St. John's University student-athletes, coaches and athletics department personnel took part in the annual University Service Day, organized by the St. John's University Service Opportunity Counsel.
Student-athletes from the men's and women's basketball teams, softball, lacrosse, track and field, cross country, men's tennis and fencing teams participated in this all-day event dedicated to helping others and giving back to the community by volunteering at different places in the region.
"Our student-athletes have a longstanding tradition of serving the community. Along with their athletic and academic experiences, community service is a significant component of their careers as St. John's student-athletes," said Chris Monasch, St. John's Director of Athletics. "We continue to be proud of their work in this area."
Rev. Michael Carroll, C.M., Executive Vice President of Missions and Branch Campuses at St. John's University, and who serves on the service opportunity counsel, opened the day with prayer before the student-athletes took to their respective sites.
The men's lacrosse team and track and field team traveled to Nazareth High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., where they helped with various projects throughout the day.
The men's lacrosse team brought thirty-eight players and two coaches to do yard work, paint locker rooms, parking lots and fences, and clean out the school's boiler room.
"I think it's important for our team to participate in a day like this, not only in terms of their own personal development, but it adds to their experience at St. John's," remarked second-year head coach Jason Miller. "At the same time, University Service Day allows our team to connect with the mission of St. John's."
"We found the experience very enjoyable and rewarding," said Jim Hurt, head coach of the women's track and field and cross country teams. "Helping others gives us a tremendous feeling of pride and accomplishment. The day also gave our team the opportunity to bond over something not track and field related, which was good for us with so many incoming freshmen."
With the track and field team at Nazareth High School, the women's cross country team participated in a "Meals on Heels" program with assistant coach John Honerkamp, organized by senior thrower Dominique Eason. The team delivered meals to various places in Manhattan.
Back in Queens, N.Y., members of the women's basketball, fencing and softball teams, along with Associate Vice President for Athletics, Kathleen Meehan, helped host "Family Day" at a non-profit special education facility called HeartShare Firststep. The teams ran different arts and crafts activities in a carnival-like atmosphere and also painted classrooms at two different HeartShare locations.
"I think University Service Day is a great way for the teams to give back to the St. John's community as a group, to work together and be together," said Jackie Smith, Director of Women's Basketball Operations. "As a team we did reflections and they enjoyed interacting with the families, the children and giving back to the community most of all."
Head men's basketball coach Norm Roberts and his staff and assistants traveled to the Jamaica YMCA, where they hosted a basketball clinic.
"University Service Day is always awesome for our student-athletes. It is great for them to interact with the people in our community, and I always feel like our athletes get back as much as they give," said Roberts. "We were at the Jamaica YMCA, and it was terrific for our guys to spend some time with the young people of our community."
Academic Support's Bernard Rencher accompanied members of the men's tennis team to the Boys and Girls Club in Long Island City, N.Y., where they engaged the club members in various activities including ping pong, basketball, tennis, pool, video games and had one-on-one conversations about academics and athletics.
Serving on the Service Opportunity Counsel as the liaison to athletics, administrative assistant for Student Development and Academic Support, Joanne Zissel, coordinated the teams to their various sites.
Players Mentioned
