Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh Volleyball Partnership announced
1/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh Athletics recently announced the launching of the Lehigh Volleyball Partnership, an extension of the Lehigh Athletics Partnership. This new organization will connect, engage and involve former volleyball student-athletes in a sport-specific community that is aimed at supporting the current student-athletes at Lehigh, while also connecting former teammates with one another.
“This is just a first step, and an exciting one, in a series of steps we have planned to build sport-specific partnerships for each of our varsity sports,” said Bill Griffin, Associate Director of Athletics. “The mission of the Athletics Partnership is to provide a framework and support system that will enable our former student-athletes to remain connected to their Lehigh sports program, and all who participated in it, in a manner that’s fun and impactful for the sport they played.”
Kerry Loughman O’Hearen, will serve as the Alumni Ambassador for the Volleyball Partnership. “I was interested in working on developing the volleyball partnership because with the formal support of Athletics it changes how this has been done in the past, and I know this will be a long term success,” she explained. “Providing support for communications, event planning, networking, etc creates a structured way to develop an alumni team and gives us the opportunity to do great things, such as developing the networking component. I have been involved over the years in organizing alumni events and loved the idea to truly create this program.”
O’Hearen will work closely with head coach Jenny Maurer as well as Roseann Corsi, a member of the Lehigh Athletics Partnership staff, in the planning, organization and execution of the Volleyball Partnership’s mission.
“Lehigh has a remarkable network of alumni who have continued to positively impact this campus far beyond their time here in a number of ways,” Maurer explained. “The volleyball program had a rich tradition in the past, and I believe the Partnership will seek to bridge the gap between past and present. I have also seen the positive financial impact other sports have experienced through the generous donations of their alumni, and my hope is that we will be able to reap the benefits of those volleyball alumni who choose to give back to a university that provided them with such a rich experience. I am looking forward to getting the volleyball alumni reconnected with both their university and the current volleyball program.”
Also involved in the organization’s infrastructure will be a Communications Chairman, an Events Chairman, a Career Networking Chairman and a Chairman of Program Support. Sue Snyder Chambers will serve as the Communications Chair and Lissa Andrews has agreed to serve on Sue’s Communications Committee. Donna Gaugler Roman will be the Events Chair. Other positions remain open and our volleyball alumni are invited to step forward as volunteers.
“I feel very fortunate to have attended Lehigh and it was because of volleyball that I became aware of the school through their recruiting. And I was able to attend with the athletic grants and a lot of work study aid in the gym,” Loughman O’Hearen said. “I stayed on as a Graduate Assistant for my MBA, so I have strong ties to those fantastic experiences I had because of volleyball.”
Maurer offered her thoughts on what role she hopes to see the program’s alumni play in the Partnership. “Current and former players alike make the best recruiters, so first and foremost, the alumni will help to continue the tradition of bringing top caliber student-athletes to Lehigh. I also look forward to opening the lines of communication and accessibility between alumni and current players through annual social and networking events in order to help create opportunities for internships and future jobs.”
The Volleyball Partnership officially kicked off on November 7 as a number of alumni returned to campus to watch the current Mountain Hawks take on league foe Colgate inside of Grace Hall on Senior Day.
For more information on the Lehigh Volleyball Partnership or to become actively involved, please contact Kerry Loughman O’Hearen at kerry.ohearen@fabny.com.
