YSU athletes show passion for community service
Rob Harris REPORTER
Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: Sports
When an athlete accepts a scholarship from a university, he or she isn't expected just to work hard athletically and academically, but also within the community.
Community service is an area of focus for many university athletic departments, and Youngstown State University is no exception.
However, each program is in charge of its own activities, as YSU Sports Information Director Trevor Parks explained.
"Most athletic teams coordinate their own community service activities. Special appearances by our mascots and cheerleaders are made through our marketing office. Sometimes groups contact the ticket office and they forward them on to the teams. Most teams are encouraged to stay active within the community," Parks said.
Parks also remarked upon the eagerness of some student-athletes to perform community service.
"Some do, some don't. We have a lot of individuals who give a ton of time," Parks said.
Parks also noted that each year, a worthy football student-athlete is nominated for the American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team; this award is based on community service. Additionally, those involved with the women's basketball program at YSU complete community service projects.
The women's basketball team has been active in the community during the past two years. Head coach Cindy Martin said this was something she "brought to the table."
"Youngstown has been such a welcoming community, so we want to make sure we give back to them. When I say Youngstown, I also mean YSU. We've done a few projects for YSU," Martin said. "The ladies really seem to love it; they see what a difference it's making, and I think they feel really good that they are helping out."
Members of the women's basketball team have performed several community services this season, including volunteering at Park Vista Retirement Community and hosting a spaghetti dinner at a local church.
Still, one event that stands out for both players and coaches was the senior project of team captain Rachael Manuel. For this project, team members spoke about the importance of education to eighth-grade students at W.S. Guy Middle School in Liberty.
Community service is an area of focus for many university athletic departments, and Youngstown State University is no exception.
However, each program is in charge of its own activities, as YSU Sports Information Director Trevor Parks explained.
"Most athletic teams coordinate their own community service activities. Special appearances by our mascots and cheerleaders are made through our marketing office. Sometimes groups contact the ticket office and they forward them on to the teams. Most teams are encouraged to stay active within the community," Parks said.
Parks also remarked upon the eagerness of some student-athletes to perform community service.
"Some do, some don't. We have a lot of individuals who give a ton of time," Parks said.
Parks also noted that each year, a worthy football student-athlete is nominated for the American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team; this award is based on community service. Additionally, those involved with the women's basketball program at YSU complete community service projects.
The women's basketball team has been active in the community during the past two years. Head coach Cindy Martin said this was something she "brought to the table."
"Youngstown has been such a welcoming community, so we want to make sure we give back to them. When I say Youngstown, I also mean YSU. We've done a few projects for YSU," Martin said. "The ladies really seem to love it; they see what a difference it's making, and I think they feel really good that they are helping out."
Members of the women's basketball team have performed several community services this season, including volunteering at Park Vista Retirement Community and hosting a spaghetti dinner at a local church.
Still, one event that stands out for both players and coaches was the senior project of team captain Rachael Manuel. For this project, team members spoke about the importance of education to eighth-grade students at W.S. Guy Middle School in Liberty.
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