PORTLAND, Maine -- America East Conference Commissioner Amy Huchthausen presented University of Vermont seniors Kaleigh Wood and J.J. Newland with the 2013 America East/CFES Service Award at the conference’s annual meeting in Portland, Maine, on Tuesday evening. In the third year of the award, the honor recognizes one male and one female student-athlete’s leadership within the America East/College for Every Student (CFES) mentoring partnership and dedication to service throughout the year.
Wood, a standout on the women’s cross country team, spearheaded an effort to adopt the nationwide You Can Play project on the Vermont campus this year. You Can Play is dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for athletes at all levels without regard to sexual orientation. Wood co-created a “You Can Play” film, illustrating the inclusive environment at UVM, specifically within the athletics community, which has been received well throughout and beyond campus. Due in part to Wood’s efforts, the America East announced an unprecedented partnership with You Can Play in December, becoming the first Division I conference to partner with the movement.
In addition to her work supporting You Can Play, Wood is also a student staff member at the University of Vermont Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Ally (LGBTQA) Center and has undertaken an ongoing effort to create an inclusive climate on campus. She was instrumental in creating a subcommittee to counteract bias incidents and encouraged UVM student-athletes, coaches and administrators to sin an ally pledge to treat every student-athlete equally and with respect. She also shared her personal story of identity development with all of UVM’s first-year student-athletes in Life Skills Classes in Fall of 2012.
A fellow Catamount, Newland earned recognition on the men’s side where he was a key student advisor in Vermont College for Every Student Program. A member of the Vermont lacrosse team, Newland crafted four thoughtful and meaningful activities as part of the shool’s CFES effort, beginning with a scavenger hunt in October. He also helped organize an art project, in which mentor/mentee pairs drafted symbols of their relationships and pained them on two large sheets to be hung at both schools. Newland also is an outstanding mentor and his positive energy was contagious throughout the Vermont community.
Beyond his leadership in CFES, Newland also is actively involved in Vermont’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He was an integral part of creating a fundraising on-campus talent show for Special Olympics Vermont, as well as several community outreach events with area elementary schools. Newland balanced his extra duties with CFES while also pursuing a degree in engineering from Vermont and plans to attend medical school to continue to pursue his passion of helping others.
The America East Conference/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. The America East/CFES partnership is the first ever between an NCAA conference and the organization.
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 518-963-4500.
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.