Central Islip, N.Y. - The next school up in our ECC On Campus feature will focus on our newest conference member, Roberts Wesleyan College. Through written and recorded interviews, this feature will take a look at some of the positive people, activities, and acheivements that are connected to the athletic programs at Roberts Wesleyan.
Current Student-Athlete: Vanessa Sell, Women's Soccer and Lacrosse
There is no question that Vanessa Sell has grown from her
experience as a student-athlete at Roberts Wesleyan College and
that Roberts Wesleyan has benefited from having Vanessa Sell as a
student, an athlete, and as a leader. A senior Physical
Education major from nearby Brockport, N.Y., Vanessa has excelled
academically and while she first came to RWC to play soccer for the
Redhawks, she was also able to participate in another sport she had
played in high school, lacrosse, when RWC added that sport in
Spring 2012.
Currently doing her student teaching as she prepares for a career
in the classroom, Vanessa says she is open to teaching in the U.S.
or even internationally and sees this career choice as she sees her
life, as a chance to practice her faith and help others.
As Senior Woman Administrator Becky Bonner noted when she
suggested Vanessa as a great Student-Athlete representative for the
Redhawks for this feature, Vanessa has shown her commitment and
leadership repeatedly during her time at Roberts. In addition
to playing two sports and doing well in the classroom, Vanessa has
been team captain for women’s soccer, past president of the
Physical Education Club, active in SAAC and their community service
and engagement activities, and is finishing her term as President
of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at RWC, a position and
organization she feels has had a significant impact on her as well
as the institution and the student-athletes involved.
In this February 2013 interview and accompanying podcast, Vanessa
talks about her life at Roberts Wesleyan and how her experiences
there impacted her and helped her grow.
Vanessa, Can you tell us why you chose to attend
RWC?
I chose to attend Roberts because of the Christian aspect. I
wanted to go to a school where your faith is number one. Also
because of the athletics, I knew that is was highly respected,
where the coaches valued faith as an important characteristic of
the game.
Why did you get involved in Fellowship of Christian
Athletes at RWC? What is your role in that
organization?
I became involved with FCA because it is a place where Christian
athletes come together, fellowship with one another and discuss how
to impact others for Christ’s glory by using sports as that
common ground. FCA focuses on serving local communities by
equipping, empowering and encouraging people to make a difference
for Christ. I started off being on the leadership team as a
freshman. As a junior I became the Vice President and this
year I am now the President. This is a student run organization so
we set up the meetings, plan what we will study, and what events we
will have. I have an awesome leadership team that helps me
with all of those things as well.
Tell us about some of your other extracurricular activities at the
college such as SAAC.
I am a two sport varsity athlete and that keeps me very
busy. I was the captain of the women’s soccer team this
year and it was an awesome opportunity to use my leadership skills
to help the team be successful on and off the field. I
started to become involved with SAAC last year. This group is
awesome, all the athletes and coaches involved are great to work
with. We come together to discuss ways to get students and
the community involved together. We also plan different ways
that we as student athletes can give back to the community.
If there is some way that we can help others we are right there
doing that. We are also the voice for our fellow
teammates. If there is a concern they can come to us and we
bring it up in our meetings.
I am also a member of the physical education club. I was
president as a junior, (due to student teaching you are not able to
be in a leadership role) In this club we plan different
events in the school for example, we set up a dodge ball
tournament, kan jam tournament, and we also participate in a heart
walk to raise money for the American Heart association.
As a leader in FCA and SAAC, what are some of the
important projects you have been involved in while at RWC? Why are
these important efforts?
There have been many different projects FCA and SAAC both are
involved in. We have done things from shoveling the
retirement home across the street from our school, to reading to
elementary kids in our community schools, to running a large
basketball tournament in order to bring students and the community
in to hear about the word of God. Not only was it to minister
to others but also the money we raised from the tournament was used
to send shoes we collected at the tournament and send over to kids
in Brazil.
Why have you taken on leadership roles in these
organizations? What has that opportunity given you?
I have taken on the leadership roles because I love God and I love
sports. Putting both things together is awesome. Both
of these groups are about serving others. A large part of
being a Christian is about giving, loving, and serving others as
Christ did for us. Being involved in these organizations is a
huge blessing to my life where I can give back to others.
Why are athletics important to you?
Athletics are important to me because God has blessed me with this
gift to play sports so I want to use it to the best of my ability
to glorify God. Being a Christian athlete is about playing as
hard as you can, 100% of the time, never quitting, playing for an
audience of one, that one being God. I am a Christian first,
athlete second. Athletics is a way that I can minister to
others. I have had the opportunity to travel around the world
to use athletics as a tool to spread the word of God, so athletic
plays an important role in my life because of that.
Why should students and student-athletes attend
RWC?
Students should attend Roberts because we are a small college
where everyone truly cares about you. If you ever need
anything you know that the administration, professors, or coaches
will be there to support you and help you in anyway that they
can. There are so many opportunities for you to be involved
in many different activities. Either it being intramurals,
off campus activities, or giving back to the community there is
always something you can be doing.
To hear the full interview with Vanessa, click on the links below.
Vanessa Sell Interview - Part One
Vanessa Sell Interview - Part Two
Former Student-Athlete: Jenn Suhr ('04), Pole Vault and Women's Basketball
After a collegiate career in which she broke Roberts Wesleyan's
all-time scoring record on the basketball court and also holds the
school record for pole vault, Jenn Suhr has gone on to become the
world's premiere pole vaulter.
Suhr is a two-time Olympic medalist and picked up a gold medal in the pole vault in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She also picked up a silver medal at the 2008 Bejing Olympics.
In addition to her international success, Suhr is one of the most decorated track and field athletes in the United States. She has been the No. 1 ranked pole vaulter in the country since 2006 and has won 11 National Championships in that span.
Recently at the 2013 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, Suhr became the second women to ever clear 5 meters and set a new indoor world record by vaulting 5.02 meters (16 ft., 5.5 in.).
Suhr returned to Roberts Wesleyan for their 2012 Homecoming as part of her Gold Medal Tour and also had the chance to compete in a competition at her alma mater. In a release written by Roberts Wesleyan Sports Information Director, Micah Chapman, Suhr had this to say about her return to Rochester. "Roberts Wesleyan is a place where I learned to achieve new heights, physically and metaphorically. The support of this community was invaluable as I pursued my goals. I look forward to sharing this victory with all of Rochester right here on campus."
To read more about Suhr's recent world record, click here.
To view her world record vault, click here.
Faculty Member with Oustanding Support for Athletics: Christine Pessagno, Ed. M.
Professor Chris Pessagno who has been teaching Physical Education
to students at Roberts Wesleyan College since 1973, is committed to
helping build the total person at RWC. She sees her
years at the college, teaching wellness and fitness courses to men
and women from many walks of life, as a rewarding opportunity to
assist with the spiritual, physical and emotional growth of future
leaders.
A graduate of SUNY Brockport, Professor Pessagno became involved
with RWC in 1972 when she started coaching the women’s
basketball team there while still studying PE at Brockport.
She went on to earn a fulltime teaching job at RWC and coached
basketball, volleyball and softball there from 1972-1989.
A 1997 inductee to the Roberts Wesleyan Athletic Hall of Fame,
Professor Pessagno has stayed active in supporting the athletic
program in many ways including becoming something of an expert
photographer. Many of the photos posted on the Redhawks
website are done by Professor Pessagno and she shares them also
with team members. She also stays active by officiating high
school volleyball, basketball and lacrosse in the area, too.
We spoke with Chris Pessagno in February of 2013 and in the
attached podcast and this interview, she talks about why Roberts
Wesleyan has impacted her life and about the students she has been
able to help as well as what makes Roberts such a great place to be
a student.
We know that you are a professor of Physical
Education. Can you speak a bit about how long you have been
teaching at Roberts and what that experience has been for
you?
I have been teaching at Roberts since 1973. By my years of service
you can see that it has been a very positive experience for
me. The College’s educational philosophy is built on
the assumption that education must address the whole person as
physical, psychological, social, rational and spiritual
being. I have had the opportunity to inspire thousands of
students by cultivating knowledge and skills in positive lifestyle
wellness and prepare thoughtful, spiritually mature, service
oriented people to confidently impact society.
I see that you were inducted into the RWC Hall of Fame in
1997. Becky told me that you coached several teams at Roberts over
the years. Can you tell us how you got involved in coaching and how
that impacted your life? What did you enjoy about coaching
and how have things changed at Roberts since the time you were
coaching?
In 1972 I started coaching women’s basketball which was the
only women’s varsity sport team that Robert’s offered
at the time. The women’s physical education faculty position
was open and back then there was not a big interest in coaching
women’s athletes. So as an undergraduate majoring in
Physical Education, I was offered the position. From 1972- 1989 I
coached 37 seasons in basketball, volleyball, and softball. I
consider myself one of the pioneers regarding women’s
athletics. We didn’t usually make a big deal of the
fact that we didn’t have the same as the men, we were just
happy to have the opportunity to play. Inclusion and the best
interest of the participant was at the heart of the athletic event
for women. It was very “student “athlete centered,
about education, therefore many women coaches were physical
education teachers.
By far the number one benefit I enjoyed about coaching would be
the strong relationships/friendships developed with my
athletes. It has been a real blessing to see them mature into
key contributors to society.
One of the biggest changes over the years has been that faculty
academic teaching load included coaching. Back in the
day, I received just three semester hours of my total 24 as a full-
time faculty member for each team I coached - hardly equivalent to
today as we have full-time coaches in most sports. Another
change of course would be the positive result of Title IX on equity
for women in sport. As a result of Title IX we expanded our
programs over the years. That is wonderful to see.
You have been very helpful in working with the athletic
program at Roberts in supporting roles including taking photos for
the department. How did you get involved in that
activity?
My family has always been big on taking pictures. Over the
years I have attended many sporting events for family and friends
and the camera was always with me, for those memories. When I
finally got into the digital age with my camera, 2010, I started
offering the pictures to my student-athletes whom I would go to
watch. The photography helped me accomplish staying in
contact with students even after their course work had
finished. (I don’t have picture memories of my games or
events because no one was coming to women’s games in my day,
let alone taking pictures. Sad to say, for some of the teams I
coached, there was no team picture taken at all.)
As the athletic department moved to posting on the web, I noticed
the women’s volleyball team had two-year old pictures and
many other sports pictures were outdated. So I started to
offer the SID my photos to update some old websites, and to my
surprise, he was posting my pictures, which encouraged me to
continue.
Can you briefly discuss what you think the place is of
athletics at a college? What do you see as the value based on your
experience of working with some of the student
athletes?
Just as Honor programs bring academically talented students
together, I see athletics as an extraordinary educational
experience for high-achieving students in the realm of sports/
athletic skills. Athletics is a blend of learning
opportunities that ultimately enhance the college experience.
Research has shown exercise/ sport can affect every aspect of the
body: brain, physical, spiritual, and emotional. It can teach
values; respect, responsibility, fairness, hard work and
discipline. Athletics is a preparation for life.
Roberts’ student-athletes challenge their bodies daily in
practices showing discipline, striving for excellence, working
cohesively as a team, and developing Christian character, to name a
few significant merits and distinctions.
Why is Roberts a good school to teach at and a good place
for students to attend?
Wow, that’s a loaded question. Do we really have time to
list everything? Let me sum it up by simply using the
college’s promotional theme, “Roberts Wesleyan College
is higher education with a higher purpose.” The
distinctive education integrates faith and learning. As a
private Christian college, Roberts encourages students to grow in
their faith as they prepare to maximize their personal and
professional potential. With over 50 undergraduate programs,
Roberts creates leaders who serve their community and the
World.
To listen to the full interview with Christine Pessagno, click on the links below.
Christine Pessagno Interview - Part One
Christine Pessagno Interview - Part Two
Community Engagement and Service: Roberts Wesleyan SAAC Connecting with the Community
Roberts Wesleyan College is currently in their second year of the
three year process all new programs must go through to gain full
Division II membership in the NCAA. Under the guidance of
President, John Martin, and Director of Athletics, Mike Faro,
Assistant Athletic Director/SWA, Becky Bonner, and the entire
staff, Redhawks athletics has quickly established themselves as an
enthusiastic, important member of the East Coast Conference.
Roberts Wesleyan College, located in Rochester, N.Y., is a highly
regarded institution, known for commitment to scholarship,
spiritual formation and service. Roberts' trademark is,
“Higher Education with a Higher Purpose.” As a
private Christian college, Roberts encourages students to grow in
their faith as they prepare to maximize their personal and
professional potential.
Part of the process for their move to DII has included focusing on
the development of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee on campus
and promoting projects and the work this group does. As SWA
Becky Bonner notes: “In our exciting transition to NCAA
Division II, our RWC athletic department has been challenged in the
process in many ways. This has been an invigorating journey
completing a self-study, coming into compliance, and continuing to
grow in excellence. One part of this transition is an
emphasis on the development of the Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee (SAAC). There are representatives of each sport on
SAAC totaling 30 student-athletes. As a whole they provide
insight into the student–athlete experience and review NCAA
legislation.”
Becky goes on to say, “As sub-committees, the main focus of
SAAC is Community Engagement and Game Day Environment. This
includes service and creating events to connect with our
community. The sub-committees of SAAC which serve to forward
this emphasis are: East Coast Conference Adopt-A-School,
College Greene Community Outreach, Make-A-Wish and Game
Environment Student Committee.”
It is clear that the Roberts Wesleyan SAAC has risen to the
challenge of building successful Community Engagement and
improving Game Day activities. The SAAC has gotten involved
in the “East Coast Conference Adopt-A-School” project
and has adopted Fairbanks Elementary, a school close to
Roberts. The group has helped out with intramurals and
Fairbanks service projects. The first outreach to the school
was December 7 when the student-athletes went to read to students
in the classrooms.
On Saturday, Feb. 16, the Men’s and Women’s Basketball
teams hosted a free basketball clinic for the Churchville-Chili
Basketball Association before their doubleheader against Molloy
College. During each half-time, boys and girls teams from the CCBA
held ten-minute scrimmages. After their half-time games, the
students were given free popcorn. And also in February
members of the Roberts Wesleyan College Student Athlete Advisory
Council spent a Friday morning with students at Fairbanks, taking
part in the school’s “Jump Rope For Heart”
program. The event was a resounding success as the student-athletes
helped more than 100 kids learn valuable heart-healthy
exercises and drills. The entire school and their families
were given complimentary tickets to the final home basketball
conference game vs. NYIT on March 2.
The athletic department also has continued with a long-standing
service project called the “Big Read” at a Rochester
city school. In addition, various teams have also been active
in other community service projects including the volleyball team
decorating Christmas cookies with residents at the Legacy Home
retirement home and helping do cleanups in the community.
“Our RWC student-athletes have always been involved with
service projects, and we have a long tradition of great game days,
but our transition into Division II will only strengthen our
commitment to service and reaching out to the
community”’ Becky writes. “ We are very
excited about our membership in the East Coast Conference and our
transition to active membership in Division II!”