The Salisbury University field hockey team has a proud tradition
of working hard on the field and putting in extra hours to become
one of the nation's elite programs. That same work ethic can be
applied to the Sea Gulls off the field. The SU field hockey team
participated as volunteers at the Volunteer Leadership Conference
for the Delaware/Delmarva, Maryland and National Capital Regions of
the American Cancer Society held at the BWI Marriott on February
10-11. Over 250 ACS volunteers and staff attended the conference.
"It was an honor to be invited to help and support the efforts
of the American Cancer Society. The work they do is truly saving
lives and the organization thrives on the hard work and dedication
of volunteers," said SU coach Dawn Chamberlin. "For us to volunteer
made sense and made a difference."
The role of the student-athletes during the weekend included;
attendee registration, speaker introductions, assist with the
regional and national awards program that took place as well as
some manual labor. Many of the Sea Gulls even participated in some
of the workshops offered like cancer screening and education to
learning about the various programs the ACS has to offer.
"The volunteers were so excited to know that college students
decided to take time to spend with them," said junior Ashley
Cartrette, a nursing major at SU. "They were thanking us over and
over again. But we want to thank them for the work they do to try
to find a cure for this dreaded disease."
In 2005, Coach Chamberlin and the team dedicated the field
hockey season to Ashley's mother (Regina Usilton) who was battling
breast cancer. The Sea Gulls won their third straight national
championship and Regina is in remission from her cancer.
Senior captain Megan Powell is currently interning with the
American Cancer Society.
"I am so excited to be working with an organization like the
American Cancer Society and I know that it will broaden my
appreciation for the work this group does to improve the quality of
life for everyone," said Powell, a Perdue School marketing major.
The field hockey team was asked to volunteer based on their
previous involvement with Relay for Life and other cancer awareness
activities. The Sea Gulls received plenty of compliments throughout
the weekend from the conference coordinators for the impact the
student-athletes had on the very successful weekend. Many of the
players are already eager to sign-up for next year's conference.
SU publication staff member Sam Gibson attended the conference
as well and served with Chamberlin as volunteer photographers for
the weekend.
"I am proud of my team and proud of the way they represented
themselves, our team, Sea Gull Athletics and Salisbury University,"
said Chamberlin.
To learn more about the American Cancer Society please visit
their Web site http://www.cancer.org/.
