Southern Vermont Student-Athletes Give Back
L-R: Joe Karnik, Jillian Neudecker, Rachael Volk,
Ryan Heron, and Mike Nosek
BENNINGTON, Vt.- Southern Vermont College's athletic teams have experienced great success in recent contests at home and across New England. However, on Wednesday afternoon, representatives from each of the college's athletic programs demonstrated that the school is developing something more than good athletes: It is also turning out good citizens.
Between 3 and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, SVC student-athletes organized themselves in several locations throughout Bennington and collected donations in a Toys for Tots drive. Despite the cold and rainy conditions, members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) braved the elements and were rewarded with a large number of gifts from members of the Bennington Community.
"Our goal in sponsoring this event was to hopefully provide some holiday cheer for families that are struggling to make ends meet this time of year," says SAAC Chair Tim Penrod. "I am delighted that the community supported us in this endeavor, and I know there are a lot of young children who will really appreciate their thoughtfulness."
"It was pretty cold, especially when it got towards the end," SVC men's basketball captain Joe Karnik said. "But it was more than worth it. To be able to be in college and to have the things I have right now, I'm pretty lucky. Doing things like this are a lot of fun because it provides things that others might take for granted."
"Something that all of the coaches are striving for is teaching our student-athletes there's more to life than sports," Penrod said. "Playing collegiate athletics provides a great opportunity to enhance the lessons that these young adults are learning in the classroom. Taking parts in events like this also remind them how important it is to give back to their community whenever they have the chance. It's so important that they always remember how important their community is.
"If you talk to any of the coaches at the school right now, they will all tell you how much they enjoy working with the players we have. We aren't forcing them to come out and do these projects: They do the prep work and the organizing, and they volunteer their time to come out and take part in these events."
Penrod added that the current "me first" stereotype involving high-level athletes takes a serious hit in light of the Mountaineers' actions this holiday season.
"It is hard to turn on the television or open the newspaper without seeing a story about athletes creating some type of controversy," Penrod said. "It is nice to see that within our community, we have a dedicated group of young people who are more focused on setting a positive example for today's youth, both on and off the court or playing field."
Story by Southern Vermont Sports Information
