Huskies Outreach wins the CCAA Community Service Award!
Fri, 15/06/2012 - 3:00pm | by Anonymous
Santiago Raigoza, Huskies Soccer, signs autographs during an Outreach visit. Supplied Photo. ShareThis
For immediate release
June 15, 2012
Huskies Outreach wins the CCAA Community Service Award!
From Fort McMurray to Fort McKay to Fort Chipewyan – they have dedicated countless volunteer hours, received innumerable smiles from local students, and displayed priceless dedication. And the result for Keyano’s Huskies athletes, who are part of the Huskies Outreach Program volunteering in local schools is memorable. The program has landed the Keyano Huskies the prestigious (Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association) CCAA Community Service Award. The surprise announcement was made on June 14, 2012 at the group’s annual general meeting in Whistler, B.C.
Santiago Raigoza, Huskies Soccer, signs autographs during an Outreach visit. Supplied Photo.
“The Community Service Award recognizes a CCAA member institution that has developed a successful community relations program,” according to the official CCAA news release.
The CCAA is the “sole coordinating body for college sport in Canada, providing leadership, programs and services that foster student-athlete development through intercollegiate sport,” according to their official website.
The Huskies Outreach Program sponsored by ConocoPhillips was launched two years ago with multiple goals including youth and coach development, the importance of a healthy lifestyle and the impact of sport in Wood Buffalo. So far the program has seen Huskies athletes conduct presentations to 5,000 local students in 22 local schools. Participants not only got to play sports with their favourite Huskies athletes, but received give-aways and autographs as well. The initiative impacted anywhere from 75-600 students per visit in Fort McMurray, Anzac, Janvier, Fort McKay and Fort Chipewyan.
Earlier this year, the Huskies Outreach Program received the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo’s 2011 Group Volunteer Achievement Award.
Mike Connolly, Athlete Services Manager and Men's Basketball Coach, and Paul Strand, Sport Development Manager and Head Coach, Men's Hockey, , are leading the program, and were on hand to receive the award. The initiative was the original idea of local sports writer Curtis J. Phillips, also Sports Information Officer and Outreach Facilitator.
“This program would not have had the impact it did without the enthusiasm, commitment and dedication to the concept of ’paying it forward’ from our student-athletes,” says Connolly.
“Huskies athletes visit the students at least once or twice a week depending on schedules. Not only do they have the demands of academic and athletic responsibilities, but we also added the commitment of ‘paying it forward’ and I thank them for their sacrifices and efforts. They are the face of Keyano College and we are proud of them,” he said.
“The support of our partner ConocoPhillips is invaluable. Not only do they provide avenues to facilitate the program by providing equipment and supplies to distribute following after our visits, but they helped take our program to another level which has a direct effect on our community and the growth of our student athletes in helping make this a better community for all,” Connolly added.
Curtis J. Phillips agrees. He says the program has benefited the region on many levels.
"Within each and every individual lies the energy and dedication to reach great heights but sometimes it is someone’s responsibility to unlock the age of enthusiasm in that individual. During the last two years with the Keyano Huskies Outreach program via visits to more than 5,000 students within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, I believe we have held that key.”
Congratulations Huskies and Huskies Athletics!
For more information, please contact:
Kiran Malik-Khan
Communications Specialist
Marketing & Communications
Keyano College
780-791-8971