Laker teams resume commitment to community service in Fall ‘22 semester
All 24 Laker teams participated in community service projects or events in the Fall ‘22
semester.
“We’re back,” said community service coordinator Dan Witmer. “2020 and 2021 were
difficult, and last year it took a while to ramp things back up to where they used to be, but I
think it’s safe to say that we’ve got the Laker teams back out in the community doing the kinds
of projects and events they were doing before the pandemic.”
The fall semester’s list of projects actually started back over the summer, when the men’s
and women’s ice hockey teams volunteered at the August 20 and 27 Teal Palace Nights at
Oswego Speedway, which promoted ovarian cancer awareness. Once the fall semester started on
August 22, both the men’s basketball team and the men’s hockey team participated in the annual
Color Run, sponsored by the Campus Recreation department.
In September, the women’ ice hockey team helped deliver mums for the annual SEFA
fundraiser, and the men’s hockey team helped with the yearly Peaceful Remedies Golf
Tournament. The following weeknd, the Laker hockey team participated in the annual Stride to
SAVE Lives Walk, and the field hockey team also promoted ovarian cancer awareness with a
Teal Game on September 20.
The men’s hockey team started to make weekly Thursday appearances at the Farmers
Market in downtown Oswego on Septmber 22, and they also offered their assistance at the Herb
Hammond Memorial Golf Tournament on September 24. The next day, the team was doing yard
work for some of Oswego’s senior citizens. Meanwhile, the men’s lacrosse team raised more
than $2,000 for the Wilmot Cancer Institute at their annual Green/Gold/Pink Game on September
24.
On Tuesday, September 27, seven Laker teams - women’s soccer, men’s ice hockey, field
hockey, men’s basketball, volleyball, softball, and men’s soccer - participated in the annual
campus-wide Teal Walk in memory of Mary Gosek. Friday, September 30, was the College’s
Green and Gold Day, and almost every Laker team was represented in the annual photo shoot
outside the Marano Campus Center.
October saw an even busier calendar of community service projects and events, starting
with the women’s ice hockey team assisting at weekly Oswego Minor Hockey Association
practices. On Wednesday, October 5, members of the men’s ice hockey, men’s and women’s
swimming and diving, and men’s lacrosse teams joined other Oswego State students in the
Shining Waters XL shoreline clean-up.
On Saturday, October 8, team members from the men’s hockey and men’s lacrosse
teams helped with set-up, serving, and take-down duties at the annual Multiple Sclerosis Poker
Walk that started and ended at Bridie Manor, and a week later, the wrestling and women’s
lacrosse teams volunteered at the annual Garrett Dunsmoor Memorial Foundation’s fundraiser.
The men’s hockey team hosted “Night of Champions” and “Family and Friends” nights for
their two pre-season scrimmages on October 15 and 22, respectively.
On October 23, members of the men’s hockey team helped with set-up, serving, and
clean-up detail at the Oswego County Hospice “Hotcakes for Hospice” fundraiser, and on
Monday, October 24, members of the women’s ice hockey and volleyball teams attended
Fulton’s “Spike Teal” varsity volleyball match at G. Ray Bodley HS. On Wednesday, October 26,
the field hockey team hosted a Breast Cancer Awareness Game.
On Friday, October 28, the softball team helped the Title IX Office with its annual It’s
On Us campaign, assisting with promotion and collecting pledge signatures.
Special Olympics bowling returned after a two-year hiatus, and the baseball and
women’s basketball teams volunteered to show their support on Saturday, October 29 at the
Lakeview Lanes in Fulton. That same day, members of the softball team assisted with the City of
Oswego Youth Council’s Trunk or Treat Halloween celebration at the Oswego Speedway. Later
that night, the men’s hockey team hosted “Teal Night” at their season opener.
The men’s hockey team hosted its Milktary Appreciation Night at their November 5th
home game, and then 22 of the 24 Laker teams participated in the department-wide leaf-raking
project on Sunday, November 6. More than 350 student-athletes grabbed rakes and tarps and
fanned out over the city to clean up approximately 55 lawns of Oswego senior citizens in what
has become an annual highlight of the community service calendar.
On Tuesday, November 8, members of the men’s hockey team assisted at the annual
Oswego’s Got Talent fundraiser for SEFA, and on Saturday, November 19, they hosted their
First Responders Night at another home game.
The men’s and women’s hockey teams combined for two consecutive nights of
fundraising and Teddy Bear Toss donations for Toys for Tots on December 2 and 3. The
women’s team also collected food and toy donations for the United Way of Oswego County.
Both teams hosted their annual Holiday Skate on Sunday, December 4, another fundraiser for the United Way.
Laker teams donated several dozen pairs of gently used footwear for NY State
Assemblyman William Barclay’s Tithe My Shoes campaign. The women’s basketball team made
donations to the Campus Toy Drive.
The men’s hockey team wrapped up the fall semester’s community service events by
making their first round game of their Oswego State Hockey Classic holiday tournament Faculty
and Staff/Oswego Minor Hockey Assocaiotn Night.
Classes for the Spring 2023 semester begin on Monday, January 23, but winter sports
teams have already planned or completed several community service events. The men’s
basketball team hosted a Basketball Night for Youth at their home game on Friday, January 6,
and the team also has a Coaches vs. Cancer game scheduled for Friday, January 27. That same
night, the men’s hockey team will be hosting its Power Play/Youth Night at the Marano Campus
Center.
Highlighted events coming later in the semester include the annual Yards for Yeardley
walk and the St. Baldrick’s Day in Oswego County fundraiser.
