Head field hockey coach Kelley Frassinelli (left), senior field hockey captain Lauren Karn (center) and senior gymnast Sarah Darst (right) were all recognized on Tuesday evening for their community service efforts.
Owls Recognized At Connecticut Higher Education Community Service Awards Event
4/27/2010 7:36:32 PM
HARTFORD, Conn. – Representatives from the Southern Connecticut State University athletic department were recognized in Hartford on Tuesday evening at the 2010 Connecticut Higher Education Community Service Awards event. Senior gymnast Sarah Darst was honored for her outreach efforts in the Individual Student category, while head coach Kelley Frassinelli and senior captain Lauren Karn represented the field hockey team, who was honored in the Student Group category.
Darst has been involved in extensive outreach efforts during her collegiate career. She participates in weekly reading and tutoring programs at the Beecher and Clinton Avenue Schools in New Haven, and also has worked with students at the Worthington Hooker School in New Haven and Shepherd Glen School in Hamden. She has also assisted with on-campus events such as Girls and Women in Sport Day, Southern Day of Service and Bring Your Child to Work Day. As a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Darst has assisted with holiday toy drives that benefited both St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and both New Haven hospitals. Darst has also been active in clothing and food drives in support of area organizations.
The field hockey program, winners of the 2009-10 Tim Greer Insurance Agency, Inc. Community Service Cup, assisted numerous programs, both on-campus and in Greater New Haven, during the 2009-10 academic year. The team helped with on-campus events such as Jail N Bail, Recyclemania, Friends of Rudolph and Girls and Women in Sport Day.
In addition, the team also completed service assistance for the American Cancer Society, Connecticut Food Bank and the March of Dimes, spearheaded work with the Springfield (Mass.) Rescue Mission – donating both gently-used clothing items and baking more than 25 pies for those in need during the Thanksgiving holiday season – and Out-to-Pasture, a Connecticut-based family-run non-profit animal rescue/rehabilitation organization that cares for animals in need.
Furthermore, student-athletes also volunteered their time with New Haven elementary school students in tutoring sessions, as well as with the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Sports Council’s spring cleanup event.