Falcons Participate At MASCAC SAAC Field Day

Fitchburg State teams up with MASCAC and USP for community service project

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 7, 2009) - The Fitchburg State Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) volunteered this past weekend at the MASCAC SAAC Community Service Project hosted by Westfield State College.

Volunteer SAAC members from all eight MASCAC schools participated in the community service project as the committee hosted a field day for more than 50 elementary age children. Children were invited from local elementary schools as well as the Unified Sports Program (USP), a program dedicated to promoting inclusion through the participation in sports.

The field day consisted of several sport stations, including basketball, baseball, frisbee golf and track & field. Under the direction of SAAC members, each stationed focused on relationship building, providing the children with a way to meet new friends and learn new sports.

Fitchburg State had five representatives from its SAAC program attend the event. Seniors Marc Hutchins (Quincy, Mass./Quincy) and Anthony Cavossa (Foxboro, Mass./Foxboro) represented the Falcons football team, while senior Gia Santaniello (E. Longmeadow, Mass./E. Longmeadow), junior Tori D'Amato (Hampden, Mass./Merrimack) and sophomore Tessa Leahy (Cohasset, Mass./Cohasset) represented the Fitchburg State women's lacrosse team.

"This event is another example of the leadership and ongoing commitment to community service demonstrated by our student-athletes" said senior women's administrator Michelle Walsh. "We are impressed with their willingness to sacrifice their limited free time to serve as role models and teachers for young children."

For more information regarding the Fitchburg State SAAC program, please visit, http://www.fscfalcons.com/insideAthletics/SAAC-CHAMPS_Life_Skills or contact SAAC Coordinator, Michelle Walsh at mwalsh61@fsc.edu.