CORNWALL, VT, April 5, 2011- The America East Conference and College For Every Student, a national non-profit that helps underserved kids attend college, are excited to announce a Student Service Day on April 9^, 2011. The Student Service Day will engage scholar-athletes from all nine AEC schools with CFES scholars at participating schools in a community service project, which range from beautifying school property to collecting food and shoes for charity drives.

The AEC/CFES partnerships are:

Boston University + Jackson Mann School

University of New Hampshire + Newmarket Middle School

University of Maine + Lewis Libby School

University of Hartford + University of Hartford Magnet School

University of Vermont  + Integrated Arts Academy

SUNY Stony Brook + Longwood High School

SUNY Binghamton + West Middle School

SUNY Albany + Hackett Middle School

UMBC + Arbutus Middle School

"America East and its nine member Universities strive to develop well-rounded student-athletes, including within the area of leadership and service. The partnership with College For Every Student, and the upcoming Student Service Day, benefits not only the younger students, but also the America East student-athletes by enriching their college experiences and honing their leadership skills for future endeavors," said Patrick Nero, America East Conference Commissioner.

Newman's Own Foundation will provide $10,000 to aid all nine participating Universities in financing the events. The Foundation has run its Campus Community Service Challenge with the America East for the last two years, already awarding nearly $200,000 to nonprofit/student group partnerships from each of the nine member Universities.

The AEC/CFES partnership was launched in the fall of 2010. Collegiate student-athletes serve as mentors for CFES scholars at partnership school. The college-student activities include tutoring sessions, joint community service projects and campus tours that often involve watching a collegiate athletic event.

"It's lack of opportunity, not ability, that keeps underserved kids from college," said Rick Dalton, CEO of CFES. "We create culture of college for these young people, who are often the first in their family to aspire to college. Collegiate scholar-athletes give students hope and a vision that college is for them, as well." 

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About CFES

College For Every Student (www.collegefes.org) is a non-profit organization that has created college-access partnerships with more than 500 schools across the country serving more than 100,000 students. CFES partners K-12 schools with colleges to implement three primary core practices: Pathways to College-- college visits, and partnerships with colleges and college students; Peer Mentoring-mentee/mentor relationships; and Leadership Through Service-leadership development workshops and community service. For more information, please visit www.collegefes.org, or call 802-462-3170.

About America East Conference

Into its third decade of operation, America East (www.AmericaEast.com) has evolved into one of the most comprehensive NCAA Division I conferences with a commitment to broad-based, competitive athletics programs, complementing the academic integrity and missions of the member institutions. Progressive in its approach to its more than 3,400 student-athletes, America East recognizes champions in each of its 20 sports and also conducts the nation's most comprehensive academic recognition program for student-athletes. With a geographic footprint covering the Mid-Atlantic to Northeast regions of the United States, America East strives to develop champions in academics, athletics and leadership at its nine member institutions: University at Albany, Binghamton University, Boston University, University of Hartford, University of Maine, UMBC, University of New Hampshire, Stony Brook University and University of Vermont.