CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, (518) 629-7898
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Monday, September 24, 2018
For the second consecutive year, Hudson Valley Community College was named the recipient of the NJCAA Region 3 Community Service Award in recognition of the dedication and support the athletics department and the student-athletes have given to the local community during the 2017-18 academic year.
"I am very proud of our coaches and student-athletes in becoming more involved with our community," said Justin Hoyt, Hudson Valley Director of Athletics. "We have made it a priority to give back and will continue to have a strong presence in our volunteer services throughout the Capital District."
The Vikings have participated in several community events like Relay for Life of Rensselaer County and the Race Away Stigma 5K Race and Fun Walk. The Vikings continued to grow their relationship with the Troy Boys and Girls Club as the women's basketball team participated in the 10thAnnual Pizza-Palooza, where they served pizza and ice cream for all of the guests.
The Hudson Valley women's soccer team spearheaded the Vikings volunteer effort at the NYS Special Olympics Summer Games, hosted by Hudson Valley and Siena College. The student-athletes cheered on the athletes, managed events and recorded results, specifically for the Softball Toss event.
Student-athletes also volunteered their time to help at Hudson Valley's annual Fall Fest and Pumpkin Palooza, an event open to the general public at no cost in an effort to provide families and children a safe, friendly and festive environment for Halloween. The student-athletes assisted with decorations, carnival games and dressed up in costumes during the event.
The men's basketball team joined forces with the athletics department and the college community to organize a fundraising effort for men's basketball student-athlete Justus Simon. The event took place on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018 and raised $7,472 for the Simon family.
The baseball program volunteered their time on a chilly Friday morning on Nov. 17, 2017 to help the Twin Town Little League with field upgrades by providing additional manpower as they carried and placed sod throughout the entire infield of the Twin Town field. Baseball also adopted Evan Fronk for the third straight year, a 7-year old boy who is battling cancer. Evan was an integral part of the team which included all team activities.
Men's soccer student-athlete, Asan Anarkulov initiated and organized a campus-wide cleanup at Hudson Valley Community College. Asan and several volunteers from the soccer and football teams took time on Earth Day to clean up some of the more heavily polluted areas on campus.
The Vikings student-athletes participated and volunteered for the 11thAnnual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event at Riverfront Park to benefit the Sexual Assault and Crime Victims Assistance Program at Samaritan Hospital. The teams received sponsors to walk a mile in women's high heels to benefit the event and assisted with various activities throughout the day. The 2018 event raised more than $32,000 from donations and community support.
The men's lacrosse program teamed up with the Beverwyck Renegades, a recreational arm of Youth L.I.F.E. Support Network Inc., an anti-gang, anti-crime not-for-profit that serves high needs and at-risk youth in Albany, Schenectady, Lansingburgh and Troy. The Team assisted in both coaching and mentoring the Renegades throughout the 2017-18 year.