Nov. 15, 2016
Red Dragon Athletics hits the streets, bags leaves for the Oneonta Community
Oneonta, NY – During the week of October 24th you could find members from various SUNY Oneonta athletic teams out and about helping their neighbors make the community look a little nicer. This year student athletes representing baseball, softball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s track & field and women’s lacrosse grabbed rakes, bags and tarps and headed to yards in and around the Oneonta area.
Now in its 12th year, the intent of this specific community service activity has always been for the student athletes to understand the importance of being neighborly, developing a sense of community and learn the joy of helping others who might be having some hardships. Students who come here for four years come to learn that Oneonta is not just a college town, but a thriving community in the middle of the Catskills. Developing a sense of community is an important component to augmenting a student athlete’s college education.
Head baseball coach Ben Grimm said, “It’s wonderful to see the team reach out in the community and make a difference. We had seven different groups from baseball work at various homes for the leaf cleanup; the players get a sense of community and meet our neighbors. While at the same time we teach our players the value of hard work and discipline.”
Softball coach Sara Headley took her team to several residences added, “It was a fantastic opportunity to give back to our community. The ability to help people who need it just feels good for me and my players.”
One of SUNY Oneonta’s six pillars of learning is community partnership and the college is very proud of the fact that this and many other community activities will always be an important part of the relationship the school has with the city of Oneonta. SUNY Oneonta Athletic Director extended a huge THANK YOU to the teams that participated for supporting our department community service events.
Ranieri said, “As a pillar of the college’s mission, we are doing the right thing but supporting the community and helping our great students learn lessons of philanthropy - an attribute that will make them good citizens for life.”