Bucknell University Athletics
Student-Athlete Enrichment Fall Recap: ENGAGE
12/23/2020 10:00:00 AM | Student-Athlete Enrichment
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Even though varsity athletic competitions were put on hold this semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bucknell Student-Athlete Enrichment program carried on at full speed. In fact, the resources and community-building opportunities facilitated by Student-Athlete Enrichment were perhaps never more critical than during this extremely challenging period under a backdrop of a global health emergency, social justice issues across the nation, and one of the most important election cycles in American history.
During the fall 2020 semester, Student-Athlete Enrichment set out to ensure the needs of all Bison student-athletes were met, especially during these COVID times. Beyond the normal programming, unique virtual opportunities were created to ensure connection and support among student-athletes, coaches and staff.
Under the leadership of senior associate athletic director for leadership development Jen Kentera and student-athlete development assistant Eline Vermeulen, Student-Athlete Enrichment initiatives are categorized into three areas: Develop, Lead and Engage.
Programs in the Develop classification are centered on health and wellness, professional development and personal excellence. The Lead programs include the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and leadership within the teams themselves (i.e. team captains). And the Engage category is focused on community service, campus engagement and social responsibility.
This week we are highlighting each of these three areas with specific initiatives.
Monday: DEVELOP
Tuesday: LEAD
Wednesday: ENGAGE
ENGAGE
During the fall 2020 semester, Student-Athlete Enrichment set out to ensure the needs of all Bison student-athletes were met, especially during these COVID times. Beyond the normal programming, unique virtual opportunities were created to ensure connection and support among student-athletes, coaches and staff.
Under the leadership of senior associate athletic director for leadership development Jen Kentera and student-athlete development assistant Eline Vermeulen, Student-Athlete Enrichment initiatives are categorized into three areas: Develop, Lead and Engage.
Programs in the Develop classification are centered on health and wellness, professional development and personal excellence. The Lead programs include the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and leadership within the teams themselves (i.e. team captains). And the Engage category is focused on community service, campus engagement and social responsibility.
This week we are highlighting each of these three areas with specific initiatives.
Monday: DEVELOP
Tuesday: LEAD
Wednesday: ENGAGE
ENGAGE
- Community Service
- Despite being limited to on-campus and virtual opportunities, teams came together in a variety of ways to give back to the community in a time where many individuals and families needed it most.
- Student-athletes were able to participate in a number of initiatives both through team and SAAC-led efforts.
- Community Cleanup - Athletes from the men's golf, men's tennis, men's soccer and men's lacrosse teams came together to clean up the Miller Run area in Lewisburg.
- Empty Bowls initiative - Several teams worked with 7th Street to help create the clay bowls that will be utilized in the Spring Empty Bowls initiatives.
- Turkey & Trimmings Initiative.
- Bucknell University Farm and Garden.
- Virtual Runs - 5K Race against Racism, Vs. Cancer, Virtually United 5K to support the Geisinger Janet Weis Children's hospital.
- Books By Bison – More than 30 students-athletes participated in this virtual reading opportunity on our Instagram live. Readings are accessible by local schools through the Bucknell Athletics YouTube page, and we worked closely with SUMMIT to ensure their families had access.
- Continuing from last spring, Read to Lead, was adapted to allow for student-athletes to engage virtually with low-income students and safely drop off books to their classrooms so they can continue their reading at home.
- Teams completed over 750 hours of community service this semester, and we had over 90% team participation this fall.
- Campus Engagement
- In partnership with the Bucknell Department of Education, Bison Cares created a variety of educational videos that are accessible to local schools and families to help teachers and parents with virtual learning. Session topics included mindfulness, counting, movement, and more.
- Teams worked in collaboration with the Office of Civic Engagement over the Thanksgiving Holiday season to help provide meals for local families. The baskets accounted for 20% of the total baskets donated by Bucknell's campus.
- Social Responsibility
- This year all student-athletes attended a civic engagement and voter education session led by RISE. The session focused on empowering and educating student-athletes to use their voice in their local communities. Additionally, students gained insightful information on registering to vote for the 2020 election.
- In partnership with the campus Bison Votes initiative and student-athlete liaison Abby Kapp (WBB'21), student-athletes tabled to encourage fellow students to register and vote. Information was distributed through both the SA Enrich and SAAC social media platforms.
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