Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh basketball gives back to the community
1/13/2011 10:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's and women's basketball teams have kept busy during the winter season giving back to the local community. Between school visits, hospital visits and more, the Mountain Hawks have made a tremendous impact in and around Bethlehem.
"A point of emphasis with our program is to develop our players to their fullest potential – as students, as basketball players, and most importantly, as future leaders upon graduation," said women's head coach Sue Troyan. "The opportunity for our program and players to get out in the community and be strong women role models plays a critical role in their personal development as leaders, on our campus and beyond."
"I believe that we have a wonderful opportunity to use our men's basketball program and its external visibility as a tremendous platform for community enrichment," said men's head coach Brett Reed. "Our decision to go to local elementary schools is based on the example and positive messages that we can help promote to local youth within our Lehigh Valley community."
The women's squad has been involved in numerous community projects, compiling more than 160 hours of service over the past six weeks. In December, five student-athletes participated in a tree decorating ceremony with the Mayor of Bethlehem and local elementary schools. Players helped hang decorations on the city tree with local elementary school students.
At the beginning of December, both basketball squads, along with each varsity team at Lehigh, participated in the Athletic Department's Annual Adopt-A-Family project. Each team adopted a local family and provided a Christmas for them.
During the week before Christmas, the entire women's team and coaching staff visited the Children's Ward at St. Luke's Hospital and delivered basketballs and signed posters while visiting with sick children and their families during the holidays. The team did this in the midst of taking finals that same week.
Following the holiday break period, the Mountain Hawks' players and coaching staff ran a community-oriented basketball clinic in conjunction with the Christmas City Classic Basketball Tournament. The Mountain Hawks spent approximately three hours with 50 children from the Lehigh Valley community, teaching the basic skills of basketball.
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Lehigh Basketball visits Asa Packer Elementary
School visits were aplenty for both squads in and around the beginning of Patriot League play. The men went to two local elementary schools – Farmersville and Asa Packer – where they discussed various topics and life lessons. Reed and senior Prentice Small talked about various aspects of respect and team play, both in and out of the classroom. Small later wowed the youngsters with a dribbling display. Teams were picked for an exciting relay race as well, which went right down to the wire.
"Our goal is for our players to understand that their influence can lead to tremendously positive things beyond winning basketball games," said Reed. "Their example is one that can be recognized and looked up to, especially considering they are such high achievers in the classroom, such high achievers in the athletic realm, and also very high character individuals who can promote a positive message in our community."
The women's team also visited a pair of school around the same time. The Mountain Hawks began at Hanover Elementary School where they read to kindergarten, first and second grade classrooms. They followed that up with a presentation to third and fourth graders where they talked about personal responsibility and "being your best." The highlight of the assembly was competitive games with the Lehigh team members and the opportunity to see a dunk by freshmen Alexandra Yantzi.
The team and coaching staff followed that up with a visit to Nitchman Elementary School, where they conducted a presentation on leadership to 300 eighth graders. The highlights were again competition with the team along with a dynamic question and answer session with team members.
In early February, the women's squad has planned a visit to the Victory House, a local men's shelter in the South Side of Bethlehem. This has been an annual visit for the team where they will make dinner for the men of the shelter and spend time visiting with them.
"We take great pride as a coaching staff in what our team is able to accomplish beyond the basketball court," said Troyan. "Both in terms of their academic success and their ability to give back to our community."
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