Softball Earns UAA Life Skills Cup Award
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 | Softball
The University of Florida softball earned the 2008-09 University Athletic Association Life Skills Cup Award for its community service dedication and involvement.
As part of the CHAMPS Life Skill Program, the UAA sponsors the UAA Life Skills Cup Award, which is presented annually to the team that excels the most in the five areas of the CHAMPS Life Skills Program. Teams earn points for participating in any Life Skills program include but not limited to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Goodwill Gators (community outreach), workshops and presentations.
“I am very honored and proud that our team earned this award,” Head coach Tim Walton said. “This is a great achievement because it shows the Gators give back to the community, something we have always strived to do. The coaching staff, as well as our players, understands the importance of helping out a community that supports us so strongly and we are proud to earn an award which exemplifies that.”
Last season, the softball team worked to give back to the local community. The Gators volunteered their time during the Inaugural Canned Goods Challenge for Kids, which included collecting cans at home football games to donate to locate food banks, Climb for Cancer, an annual event for children diagnosed with cancer to come play sports with UF student-athletes, and Gator Tracks delivery, as the players wrapped and delivered new sneakers to low-income students in the Gainesville school district. They also made frequent trips to Shands Hospital, the YMCA and volunteered at PK Young Developmental Research School as well as other elementary schools in the local area.
The Gators also created and organized the first Swinging for Cancer event at the Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium to kick off the 2009 season. Other UF student-athletes and coaches tried their luck to hit against All-American pitcher Stacey Nelson as fans watched from the stands. The fans could then pledge donations to Shands Cancer Research Hospital.
The 2009 softball team was honored at the end of the first quarter of the Florida-Tennessee football game on Sept. 19 for their accomplishments on the field, as well as those in the classroom and in the community as the UAA's Office of Student Life's Rew Woodruff presented the team with the Life Skill Cup.
