SOS Update: January 2011

Jan. 26, 2011

The Solid Orange Squad has returned from the winter break and continues to be driven to make their presence known to the community. On Wednesday, student-athlete Chris Slate (men’s track and field) visited Stone Academy in Greenville to speak to students about the traits of a TIGER! This was a part of Stone Academy’s CHAMPS program designed to instill good values in at-risk fourth and fifth graders at the school. This is the second year that SOS has participated in the CHAMPS program, and next week, female student-athletes will travel to the school to discuss the same topics with young girls.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee participated in the Thank-A-Thon on Wednesday, January 19, where student-athletes were given the opportunity to call IPTAY Donors and thank them for the contributions they have made that enable the athletes to compete and have the opportunities to get a college education.

Here are several big events we are working on for the spring semester:

Kim Ruck (women’s track and field) is taking part in Zest Quest as a student mentor for Central Elementary school. She served as a mentor to students in the fall and has since enlisted the service of other student-athletes to also become mentors by volunteering one hour per week at the school.

SOS is also planning these major annual events during the spring semester:

* Clemson Elementary School International Festival on February 11 and 12 * Boy Scout Day on February 26 * Be A T.I.G.E.R. Field Day and National Student-Athlete Day on April 9

These events span across the spring semester and provide ways for athletes to contribute and give back to the community. Last year, 1,500 scouts came for the Boy Scout Day and the Be A T.I.G.E.R. Field Day and NSAD played host to over 1,000 kids. These events require much planning and coordination and the SOS is already hard at work.

The chairs of the field day are: David Dannelly (golf) and Brannon Sulka (track and field), and the chairs of the NSAD will be McCuen Elmore (golf) and Taylor Hoynacki (rowing.)

For any questions, or to enlist the service of SOS contact Linda White of the Community Relations Department.