A big component of being a student-athlete at Oswego State is serving the local community! Each year the athletic teams participate in numerous community service projects and fundraising efforts.
For the third time in four years, the Oswego State athletic department received the Josten’s/NADIIIAA Community Service Award. Most recently, Laker student-athletes were recognized with the Award of Merit for 2010-11 in the “Array of Projects” category. The department was also a recipient for 2009-10, and the men’s lacrosse team was nationally recognized for its community service work in 2008-09.
Oswego State student-athletes took part in 37 different projects or events in 2011-2012 helping national charities and organizations such as Special Olympics, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, United Way, Coaches vs. Cancer, and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. However, they also helped with local groups like Move Along, Inc, the Fulton and Oswego YMCAs, and local school districts. In all, approximately 2,400 service hours were donated by Laker team members.
The single-biggest event was the sixth annual St. Baldrick's head-shaving fundraiser for childhood cancer research. Twenty-five student-athletes, representing five separate Laker teams, were among the 165 shavees who combined to raise more than $72,000.
Combining all the fund-raisers that Oswego State team members supported, our student-athletes are proud to say they helped raise more than $117,000 in 2011-12.
Here is what else the Lakers accomplished during the 2011-12 year.
Special Olympics Swim Program Volunteers (March-May 2012) - Five student-athletes from the Oswego State men's and women's swimming and diving teams assisted the local Special Olympics three-month swim program on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Oswego High School.
Reading with the Lakers (3/5/12) - Members of the Oswego State men's basketball team and coaching staff visited an elementary school in Fulton to promote the importance of reading skills, strong study habits, and literacy.
Play4Kay Game (2/17/12) - Both Oswego State men’s and women’s basketball teams wore pink Play4Kay T-shirts during warmups of their contests against Buffalo State. Members of the SUNY Oswego Colleges vs. Cancer organization sold additional T-shirts, accepted donations, and raffled off autographed basketballs by the Laker basketball teams and the Syracuse men's basketball team.
St. Baldricks Night (2/11 and 2/21/12) - Over $350 was collected at a table set up at the Oswego State men’s ice hockey game against Buffalo State on February 11. The table was manned by members of the Laker men’s lacrosse team. Nearly $200 was raised during the SUNYAC men's basketball quarterfinal game on February 21.
Girl Scouts Day (2/4/12) - Area Girl Scouts were guests of the Laker women’s ice hockey team at its Senior Day game versus RIT.
Pink at the Rink Night (2/3/12) - Free admission to the Oswego State vs. RIT women's ice hockey was offered to all fans with Colleges vs. Cancer members collecting donations at the door, while a commemorative pink jersey was auctioned. Between admission donations and the jersey auction, a total of $1025 was raised for The American Cancer Society.
Special Olympics Night (1/21/12) - Special Olympics athletes and coaches from the Oswego County area cheered on the women’s ice hockey team in its game versus Plattsburgh.
MoveAlong, Inc. Night (1/20/12) - A sled hockey demonstration was featured between the first and second period during the men’s ice hockey game against Cortland. Public service announcements promoted Move Along’s mission to help disabled people lead athletic lives.
2011 Holiday Skate (12/11/11) - The Oswego State men's and women's ice hockey teams hosted an afternoon of skating at the Campus Center Arena complete with Santa, holiday music, and autographs from the Lakers. Proceeds totaling nearly $550 were donated to the United Way.
Toys for Tots / Holiday Cards for Heroes (12/2 and 12/3/11) - Student-athlete mentors helped collect more than 50 toys and write Christmas cards for military personnel overseas, working tables during the Oswego State men's and women's basketball games both days to promote both Holiday Season drives.
Leaf-Raking Project (11/13/11) - Nearly
350 Oswego State student-athletes and
14 head coaches participated in the event. Forty-five yards in Oswego were raked in what was the highest participation in the history of this annual event. We will need more rakes and leaf bags next year! The event was coordinated by women's ice hockey coach Diane Dillon and SAAC.
Photo gallery of students in action
United Way Stone Soup Fundraiser (11/10/11) - Members of the women’s ice hockey team helped serve soup at annual fundraiser for the United Way of Greater Oswego County.
Oswego YMCA Guest Speakers (11/9/11) - The three Oswego State men's basketball captains and head coach Jason Leone spoke with about 15 Oswego youth at the YMCA’s basketball program.
Sixth Annual Ted Mullin Hour of Power (11/8/11) - Laker swimmers and divers took part in the sixth annual Ted Mullin “Leave it in the Pool” Hour of Power from 5-6 p.m. Oswego State was one of more than 197 colleges participating in the event, which is sponsored by the Carleton College swimming and diving teams. Named after Ted Mullin, a Carleton swimmer who died in 2006, the event aims to promote team spirit and to generate awareness of sarcoma, a rare cancer that disproportionally affects adolescents and young adults.
United Way Food Drive (11/5/11) - Fans attending the men's and women's ice hockey doubleheader on November 5 were asked to bring canned and other non-perishable food items in an effort to stock the five Oswego County food pantries. Donations filled six large bins.
Special Olympics Bowling (10/29/11) - Laker athletes from the softball, basketball, and women's tennis teams and SAAC assisted Special Olympics bowlers throughout their competition at Fulton's Lakeview Lanes, lending plenty of vocal support and encouragement.
United Way Walk-A-Thon (10/15/11) - Seven women's tennis team members participated in the 20th annual campus event to raise money and awareness for the Greater Oswego County United Way campaign.
Green/Gold/Pink Men's Lacrosse Game (10/15/11)The October 15 fall finale of the men’s lacrosse non-traditional season raised more than $1,000 for Coaches vs. Cancer. The fourth annual Green/Gold/Pink intrasquad game pitted teams drafted by the assistant coaching staff. This year the Pink team, led by Casey Balzer's three goals and three assists, defeated the White team by score of 11-7. Much of the money raised came through the team’s operation of concession sales held at the women’s volleyball tournament earlier in October. This year’s contribution total - $1,027 – went directly to Coaches vs. Cancer, which is operated by the American Cancer Society.
Fulton YMCA Century Marathon (10/9/11)Fifteen members of the Laker men's and women's cross country teams cheered participants on and manned water stations along the course.
5-K Pumpkin Run (10/9/11)Student-athletes from several different teams, who are members of the Student-Athlete Mentors group, participated in a 5-K run to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure.
Basketball Clinic (10/2 and 10/9/11) - The Laker men's basketball team and head coach Jason Leone offered a free clinic for boys and girls in grades 1-7. More than 80 participants took part on Oct. 2 and more than 50 participated on Oct. 9.
Bucfest 2011 (10/1/11) - The Laker men's ice hockey team assisted with
the annual Oswego High School Homecoming festivities.
Stick It To Cancer" Field Hockey/Women's Lacrosse Alumni Games (10/1/11) - The field hockey and women's lacrosse teams combined efforts to "Stick It To Cancer" when the Lakers played Oneonta and competed in an alumni game. In the process, both teams collected $1,300 in donations for the National Foundation for Cancer Research.
Oswego County Anti-Bullying Rally (10/1/11) - The Oswego State Student-Athlete Mentors along with the men's and women's swimming and diving and men's ice hockey teams walked, cheered, and encouraged students from Oswego County as they walked to raise awareness against all types of bullying.
Oswego Minor Hockey Coaching (9/30-10/1/11) - Members of the men's ice hockey assisted with this season's Oswego Minor Hockey try-outs and early season practices.
Sarah's Walk/PDSA 5K Run (9/24/11)- Over 55 Oswego State student-athletes representing two different programs ran in this benefit for the Platelet Disorder Support Association in Hannibal, N.Y. Members from the women's ice hockey and men's lacrosse teams battled it out in a race within a race with the men's lacrosse team finishing in the front of the pack for the second consecutive year. More than $1,800 was raised during the event.
Special Olympics - Soccer (9/10/11) - The Oswego State Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and several Laker athletes from women's ice hockey and women's basketball worked with approximately 25 Special Olympics athletes who worked on soccer and softball skills at Oswego High School. Both athletic groups had lunch together and were on hand for awards that were given out to the Special Olympics athletes .
Past Lakers in the Community Years
2010-11
