BOSTON – The Suffolk women's hockey team was declared the winner of the NCAA Division III Special Olympics Spotlight Poll following daily voting throughout the month of August.
The Rams were nominated for the national poll for their third-jersey game, which benefitted Special Olympics Massachusetts. Suffolk turned in its usual blue-and-gold sweater for a red, white and blue garb for its battle with former New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) counterpart UMass Boston January 25, 2020.
Months prior to that puck drop, Taylor Wayslk's squad hosted on ice events with Special Olympians at the team's home ice at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink.
"I would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who voted for our team in the NCAA poll," head coach Wayslk said. "Our student athletes work hard to find ways to give back to the community, while balancing their athletic and academic schedules, and Special Olympics has really earned a spot in their hearts over the past two years. We look forward to continuing our work with the Special Olympics of Massachusetts and FMC Adaptive Skating Program this coming year and beyond."
Voting ran from August 1 through August 25. Suffolk garnered 59.6 percent of the votes, amassing 230 total nods. The Rams edged out Old Westbury's baseball teamand Wilmington's basketball programsfor a $500 stipend from the NCAA towards its next Special Olympics event.
The Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) initiated the partnership at the 2011 NCAA Convention and officially launched the partnership on August 1, 2011. The purpose of the partnership is to enhance the lives of Division III student-athletes and Special Olympics athletes through a mutual learning experience; provide a platform for recognition of Special Olympics athletes and Division III student-athletes within their communities; and raise awareness of Special Olympics, its programs and services.
Through this partnership, Division III student-athletes across the country are encouraged to participate in existing Special Olympics events, or otherwise serve to support Special Olympics organization. The activities pursued by student-athletes will vary in each state and region, tailored to best utilize the student-athletes' time and local resources. Service activities with Special Olympics athletes range from unified events to sports clinics to bowling as well as pizza parties or fundraising efforts.
Overall, the partnership provides the partnership for student-athletes to engaged with Special Olympics and collaborate with existing student-led programs on campus. It also serves as another opportunity to demonstrate the citizenship and comprehensive learning attributes of Division III student-athletes. Student-athletes giving back to their local (and often national and international) communities not only adds to the comprehensive learning component of Division III< bust also provides a venue for passion and service.