Sparkill, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College student-athletes participated in the United Way of Rockland County's Spring Day of Caring.  For the second year in a row, the Spartans earned a $1000 scholarship for being the college with the highest participation.  Over 50 volunteers from the soccer, basketball, track & field and cross country programs worked together on a variety of community service initiatives throughout the county.

The United Way of Rockland County’s Day of Caring is the largest volunteer community service event in Rockland County.   It brings together volunteers with organizations that support individuals and families in need.  The Spring Day of Caring is aimed at mobilizing local students and introducing them to community service.  This is a perfect fit for the students of St. Thomas Aquinas College.

It is the College’s mission to assist students to “become a responsible citizen and leader in shaping the diverse world community, who lives in a manner exemplifying the principles of service, mutual respect, and individual responsibility...”

There would be no “win” without the extraordinary efforts of our Athletic Department administrators: Director of Athletics,Gerry Oswald and Assistant Directors Nicole Ballou and Kim Lusk coordinated the day, but all the coaching staff stepped up to the challenge...and Maria Coupe and Pat Pacchiana of Human Resources served liaisons between the athletics
department and the United Way.

The students were assigned to four locations:

Camp Scuffy
Airmont, NY
Mulching, cleaning & Painting
 
Haverstraw Community Center
Haverstraw, NY
 
RCALD (Rockland County Assoc. for Learning Disabilities)
Hillcrest, NY
 
Visions Camp for the Blind
Spring Valley, NY

These athletes not only volunteer for this day, but for many other causes, attain above-average GPA’s and put in considerable time and effort to succeeding in their sport...no easy accomplishment..so a well-deserved KUDOS to all involved!

United Way’s mission is to advance the common good. With your help, we can create opportunities for a better life by focusing on: a quality education that leads to a stable job, which provides the income that can support a family through retirement; and good health. Everything we do supports these building blocks for a better life – that provide the skills necessary to achieve these goals. We invite you to be part of the change. Be part of improving the education, income and health of people in our community. Because united we stand. United, we elevate. United, we can change what we see in our world.

Provided by the St. Thomas Aquinas Sports Information Department.