Claire Boyce (second from left) and Grace McLaughlin each were honored at the 2017 UF Presidential Service Reception Monday evening. Joining them above are UF Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. David Parrott, Florida Head Gymnastics Coach Jenny Rowland and UF President Dr. Kent Fuchs.
Two Gator Gymnasts Honored at UF Presidential Service Reception Monday
Monday, April 10, 2017 | Gymnastics
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Gator gymnasts Claire Boyce and Grace McLaughlin each contributed more than 200 community service hours in past year.
By: Mary Howard
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A pair of Gator gymnasts – Claire Boyce and Grace McLaughlin - were honored Tuesday with 2016-17 UF Presidential Service Awards. The duo joined the other honorees Monday evening at the Earl and Christy Powell University House for the reception.
About the Award:The 2017 UF Presidential Service Award honorees show their Gator spirit at Monday evening's reception.
The UF Presidential Service Award recognizes students who have made outstanding efforts towards community service and too often go unrecognized and unrewarded for their selfless labor. Each honoree received an award certificate.
All of the honorees turned in 200 plus hours of community service between March 1, 2016 and March 1, 2017.
This is the second such honor for McLaughlin and first for Boyce. Five Gator student-athletes have received this honor since its inception in 2013. Boyce and McLaughlin join Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto (gymnastics/2015), Michael McNeely (football/2014) and Brittany Koziara (track & field/2014) as recipients of the award. Claire Boyce (back row, second from left) with participants at 2016 Florida Diabetes Camp.Their volunteer contributions:
Boyce and McLaughlin were counselors at the Florida Diabetes Camp in the summer of 2016. The Florida Diabetes Camp aims to provide a safe, fun camp environment for children with type 1 diabetes. They both helped provide a memorable camp experience for the children.
Both also participated in "Climb for Cancer"- an event where UF student-athletes play games and different sports with children who have cancer. In December, both participated in Gator Tracks, a holiday season program which children receive new shoes and socks. The Gator student-athletes purchase, wrap and deliver the shoes to area elementary school students. More than 400 children received the shoes in December of 2016.
Boyce also participated in Brain Breaks (leading elementary students in active study breaks), the UF Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) collection drive for the Baton Rouge flood victims, Gator Move and made several school visits. Grace McLaughlin takes a selfie with some of the 2016 Florida Diabetes Camp particpants.
McLaughlin made several visits to the Reichert House, which is an after-school program for at-risk youth in middle and high school. She made visits to local schools and Shands Pediatrics and helped at UF's Dance Marathon. McLaughlin volunteered at UF Health to participate in Caleb's Pitch Syringe Art Painting, where student-athletes and pediatric patients at Shands paint canvases with syringes full of paint.
