University of Maine student-athletes don't just receive tremendous support from the community ... they also return the support to the local community. Each year, Black Bear student-athletes do several, wonderful things throughout the state of Maine, including speaking in schools, hosting instructional clinics, beautifying the campus and surrounding towns, and hosting fundraisers for cancer research.

For more information on how Maine Athletics can take part in various community events, please contact Student-Athlete Services Coordinator Brandi Rideout at (207) 581-1828.

The following is a list of events Black Bear student-athletes have participated in this year during the 2007-08 academic/athletic season. Also included is a list of upcoming events that will be held throughout the spring.

COMING SOON...

World Skin Cancer Foundation Celebrity Softball Game (Saturday, May 3)
Assistant football coach Phil McGeoghan will take part in a celebrity softball game in Orlando, Fla., which will raise awareness and funds for the World Skin Cancer Foundation, in cooperation with National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. The awareness month will go throughout the entire month of May. For more information and see a list of celebrities, please click HERE.

March of Dimes March for Babies (Sunday, May 4)
Black Bear student-athletes will be fundraising and walking in the March of Dimes March for Babies.

Alcohol and Drug Education Talks (Dates TBA)
Black Bear student-athletes will be attending Old Town Elementary school and Dr. Lewis Libby school in Brewer during Alcohol Awareness Month. The student-athletes will be talking to fourth and fifth graders about how to stay healthy and how to be social without drinking or using drugs.

WHAT BLACK BEAR STUDENT-ATHLETES HAVE DONE SO FAR THIS SEASON...

Ovarian Cancer Research Fundraiser at Old Town McDonald's (August 2007)
Black Bear student-athletes from several teams (volleyball, men's and women's swimming & diving, men's basketball and men's soccer) helped drive customers through the drive thru in an attempt to break the world record for most people through a drive thru in four hours. The money raised went towards ovarian cancer research.

Kid Zone at All Home Football Games
Black Bear student-athletes from several teams (women's ice hockey, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming & diving, softball and men's soccer) supervised the slide and bounce house before and during all home football games during the 2007 season.

Run For Hope (Sept. 9, 2007)
Several Maine teams, including women's ice hockey, men's ice hockey, women's basketball, men's basketball and softball, ran in the Run For Hope 5k race, which helped raise money for cancer research. The women's ice hockey team also aided the event by helping set up prior to the race and cleaning up afterwards.

Race For The Cure (Sept. 16, 2007)
Members of the men's basketball and women's ice hockey teams participated in the event which went towards raising money and awareness for finding a cure for cancer. The women's ice hockey team also helped crews clean up after the event.

Bears of Tomorrow (Oct. 21, 2007)
The women's soccer team gave a free clinic to area youth following a home game at Alumni Field on the Orono campus. Prior to the contest, Black Bear student-athletes Cassandra Mendonca (field hockey), Ally Thomas (track & field), Amy Lawson (volleyball), Kerstin Fenton (swimming & diving), gave participants a tour of the campus and talked about college life and what it's like to be a student-athlete.

Bangor Homeless Shelter (Oct. 26, 2007)
Ten (10) Black Bear student-athletes, including Amanda Tewksbury and Colleen Kilmurray (women's basketball); Robbie Hanzlik (men's basketball); Xavier Martin, Kevin Phanor and Derek Session (football); Lindsay Burlock (women's track & field); Kiki O'Donnell and Heather Leach (women's swimming & diving); and Jordon Pekrul (women's soccer); attended the Bangor Homeless Shelter and cleaned, painted and organized the facility.

Trick or Eat (Oct. 31, 2007)
Seven (7) Black Bear teams (volleyball, women's basketball, swimming & diving, softball, track & field, field hockey and women's soccer) went door-to-door throughout local communities collecting non-perishable food items for the Crossroads Resource Center.

Community Cares Day (Feb. 19, 2008)
Black Bear student-athletes spent the afternoon with area teenagers from the Community Cares group in Bangor, and discussed what life as a college student-athlete is like and the importance of a college education.

Dr. Seuss' Birthday Celebration at the Bangor Public Library (March 1, 2008)
Black Bear student-athletes attended the Bangor Public Library and read some of their favorite Dr. Seuss books to area children.

Special Olympics Basketball (March 26, 2008)
Members of the men's and women's basketball teams, and women's basketball assistant coach Rita Sullivan, volunteered to help out at the Special Olympics at the Old Town YMCA. Members of both teams were on hand to work with several basketball players and taught them fundamentals and the importance of team work.

Asa Adams School Community Read Day (March 28, 2008)
Maine head and assistant coaches Jack Cosgrove (football), Ted Woodward (men's basketball), Kelley Gibson (women's basketball) and Tim Whitehead (men's ice hockey), along with players Kaimondre Owes (men's basketball) and Jerron McMillian (football), attended the community read day at the Asa Adams School. Everyone read to all of the fourth graders at the school.

Healthy Kids Day (April 5, 2008)
Over 20 Black Bear student-athletes from several teams (soccer, basketball, football, swimming & diving, and hockey) volunteered at Healthy Kids Day at the Bangor YMCA. The Black Bears took part in several fun games and activities with the children. Student-athletes also took time to talk with kids about the importance on making the right choices in living healthy lifestyles.

Healthy High 5k Race (April 20, 2008)
Members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and other Black Bear student-athletes competed in and volunteered to help in the race which promoted alcohol and drug education programs. Student-athletes helped worked the registration table and handed out water to participants in the race.

Black Bear Football
The Maine football team took time out of its hectic preseason schedule in August to greet nearly 250 United States Marines at the Bangor International Airport who were returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Juniors Jovan Belcher and Jhamal Fluellen served as mentors to a local child in Bangor. The duo spent several hours a week before and after practice spending time with the youngster and serving a big buddies. The team also took part in a Youth Football Night during its August preseason camp, as the Black Bears signed autographs and posed for pictures with local children.

Black Bear Softball
The Maine softball team volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House on Oct. 10, and spent time with children stricken with cancer and their families. The team also initiated and conducted educational activities during National Hazing Prevention Week on Sept. 24.

Black Bear Women's Ice Hockey
The Maine women's ice hockey team held a free skate for area youth on Halloween. Children from the area had the opportunity to skate on the ice at The Alfond with their favorite Black Bears.

Black Bear Men's Basketball
The Maine men's basketball team handed out candy to local children at the Bangor Mall on Halloween. Also during the Fall, the team hosted YMCA basketball registration at The Alfond.

Black Bear Men's Soccer
The Maine men's soccer team has taken time to support the program titled Futbol for Change.

Black Bear Men's Ice Hockey
The Maine men's ice hockey team held a "Skate with the Bears" during the Fall, as area youth got the experience to skate with their favorite Black Bear hockey players. Billy Ryan, Nolan Boike, Bret Tyler also volunteer once a week at the Eastern Maine Medical Center. Earlier in the season, freshman Tanner House met with a group of patients from the Maine Center for Integrated Rehab and gave them a tour of Alfond Arena. The group later met with the entire team and with head coach Tim Whitehead.

Black Bear Women's Basketball
The Maine women's basketball team hosted registration for YMCA basketball at the Alfond Arena earlier in the season. Sophomore guard Amanda Tewksbury is currently leading the Fellowship for Christian Athletes at Maine, and has spoken to area schools and organizations about being a Christian athlete. The team also hosted a youth instructional clinic in Bangor on Jan. 5.

Men's Swimming & Diving
Members of the Maine men's swimming & diving team have joined the Black Bear Mentor program, which works with the River Coalition and area schools to mentor local children.

Black Bear Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
The University of Maine Black Bear Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) collected over 60 toys and $500 in donations for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program in December 2007. SAAC is comprised of student-athletes from several Black Bear teams.