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Eight Water Polo Student-Athletes Honored at Fordham University Breakfast of Champions
BRONX, N.Y. -- Eight Fordham University men's water polo players were honored for compiling a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher at the Sixth Annual Breakfast for Champions in the McGinley Center Ballroom. The event was sponsored by the Fordham Athletic Department with assistance from the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and the Office of Academic Advising.
Ali Arat (Gr., Istanbul, Turkey/Sisli Terakki Secondary, Koc University), Cashel Barnett (Fr., Carmichael, Calif./Rio Americano), Daniel Barron (Fr., Darien, Ill./Fenwick), Victor Bautista Medina (Jr., San Cristobol, Venezuela/Juan XXIII, West Valley Community College), Mark Connor (Jr., San Juan Capistrano, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic), Martin de Jong (Jr., Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Polytechnic), Mikey Edwards (Jr., Walnut, Calif./Rowland, Mt. San Antonio) and Scott Nemecek (Jr., Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township) were honored by their institution.
Overall, the Rams' Department of Athletics honored 275 student-athletes as over 50% of the student-athletes at Fordham were recognized by the institution for academic success. It marks the largest number of student-athletes to attend a Breakfast for Champions in Fordham's history.
After opening remarks from Frank
McLaughlin, Executive Director of Athletics, Director of Athletic
Administration Charlie Elwood recognized the top team performer for
each varsity program.
Bridget Carroll, FC '10, President of SAAC and a member of the
Cross Country/Track and Field programs, spoke to those in
attendance about the works of the SAAC program and how the decision
was reached to donate $1,500 to CitySquash. CitySquash is a
not-for-profit after-school enrichment program based in the Bronx
at Fordham University. The organization helps motivated and
talented young people from economically disadvantaged households in
the Bronx fulfill their academic, athletic and personal
potential.
"CitySquash is such a great and unique program that totally
transforms the kids," said Carroll. "I started tutoring with them
two weeks ago and witnessed firsthand how they respond to having a
Fordham student-athlete with them in class."
Carroll then introduced Tim Wyant, Executive Director of
CitySquash, who spoke of the program before Carroll presented him
and Sanford Schwartz, Founder and Chairman of CitySquash, with a
check for $1,500 on behalf of the SAAC.
Wyant, a four-time All-American and two-time captain on the
varsity squash team at Harvard College who played professionally
for two years, was hired by CitySquash's Board of Directors in 2002
to launch and run the organization. He gave those in attendance a
brief history of squash, explaining how it came to the United
States from England as a sport for those of means, being played at
exclusive country clubs and prep schools.
Wyant then spoke of the CitySquash program and how it works with
the local elementary, middle and high schools to get the students
involved in the sport, as well as helping them with academics and
getting them involved in community service.
"Do kids in the Bronx want to play an elite game?" Wyant asked
those in attendance. "We actually found that recruiting students
was one of the easiest things we do. The students around here have
so few extracurricular activities to be a part of that they
embraced the program."
Students who participate in the CitySquash program all have a B
average in school and 29 of the middle school students from last
year received scholarships to some of the more prestigious private
schools in the city. Also, all of the students who started with the
program in 2002 are now in college, attending such school as
Cornell, Wesleyan and Hobart and William Smith.
Wyant extolled the Fordham community for its help in the success
of CitySquash, from providing the courts for the students to
compete as well as classroom space and tutors for the students to
learn. He also shared with the Fordham student-athletes his
experience at the university with CitySquash.
"I remember walking on to campus the first time with the kids from
the program," said Wyant. "I remember the looks on their faces as
we entered through the Bathgate Avenue gate, walked past the
building and saw the open lawn of Edwards Parade. It's a moment
I'll never forget because even though the students didn't know it,
the seed was being planted in their minds that will be cultivated
over the years, allowing them to realize that they could come to a
prestigious school like Fordham."
"I'm deeply grateful and appreciative for what Fordham has done
for CitySquash," continued Wyant. "You are an inspiration to our
students and I hope you realize just how much a difference you can
make."
Following the check presentation, Schwartz addressed the crowd,
congratulating the Fordham student-athletes for their athletic and
academic accomplishments and thanking the school for its help with
CitySquash. "Not a day goes by that I'm not thankful for Fordham.
Without Fordham, none of this could have ever happened."
Carroll then stepped up to the microphone to explain that SAAC has
two upcoming events to raise funds for a national and international
charity. The national charity is the St. Jude Children's Research
Hospital which will benefit from the third annual St. Jude Carnival
Night on February 24th, while the international charity that has
been selected is the Asayo Wish Orphanage in Uganda. SAAC will sell
raffle tickets to gift baskets this Friday and Saturday, February
12th and 13th, to raise funds in order to send athletic equipment
to the children at the orphanage.
Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham University, wrapped
up the brunch with a three-part talk. First, he recognized the
CitySquash program, joking about how the CitySquash students are
"the only people on campus shorter than I am."
Secondly, Fr. McShane spoke to the student-athletes, praising them
for their work, on the athletic fields, in the classroom and in the
community.
"We are immensely proud of you," said McShane to the
student-athletes. "You represent Fordham with class and character
in everything you do. You are a standing rebuke to what people
think when they think about athletes and for that we are
grateful."
Lastly, Fr. McShane wrapped up the brunch by leading the crowd in
reciting the Lord's Prayer.
In addition, de Jong was among 17 student-athletes honored by Fordham for having the highest grade point average on their team.
Information courtesy Fordham Athletic Communications
