What do you have if you take a bunch of old hockey skates, some disadvantaged children and a student-athlete who is motivated to make a difference?

You have Jason Cupp, a senior from the University of Nebraska, Omaha, whose community service has gone far above the call of duty.

Cupp has been selected as the recipient of the 2001 Hockey Humanitarian Award, which is presented annually to college hockey's finest citizen.

Captained by Cupp, the Mavericks had their best season this year, finishing with a 24-15-3 record, fourth in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and eliminating Ohio State University in the first round of the post-season playoffs.

'Scoring for Kids'

The Nebraska-Omaha hockey program is well-known in Omaha for its community service, and Cupp has been one of the pioneers with his work for the "Scoring for Kids" program.

"Jason first came to me at the end of his sophomore year and suggested that we collect old skates and give them to disadvantaged kids in the Omaha area," said Nebraska-Omaha coach Mike Kemp. "I suggested he take his idea even further and start an entire program for disadvantaged kids."

Kemp gave Cupp some initial guidelines to follow, along with a list of community leaders who might be interested in helping the program. Cupp took it from there, appealing to foundations and local businesses to contribute $25 for each goal scored by the Mavericks during home games.

The program raised more than $10,000, and children from the Omaha Boys & Girls Club have benefited. The youngsters came to the Maverick's rink once or twice a week this past season, skating for nearly two hours at a time, where they received skating and hockey instruction from Cupp, who constructed drills, conducted scrimmages and persuaded other student-athletes to take part.

"We got old skates for the kids, and we used old gloves and helmets from our program," Cupp said. "Then, at Christmas time, we got them all practice jerseys."

The Boys & Girls Club took care of the insurance and transportation of the youngsters, who ranged in age from 10 to 13.

"When they first started, they couldn't skate. But by the time we ended the program at the end of the season, they were able to skate forwards and backwards, and they even had some pretty good scrimmages," Cupp said.

Cupp's commitment to the Scoring for Kids program got the attention of his coach.

"I have been coaching hockey since 1976, and this was the single-most outstanding effort I have ever seen from a student-athlete," Kemp said. "What's more, we have an underclassman on the team, Joe Pereira, who is committed to keeping the program going next year after Jason graduates. That's says something of Jason's leadership qualties."

Cupp's other volunteer efforts have included work with the Omaha Multiple Sclerosis Walk and the Children's Miracle Network. He's visited children in Omaha hospitals and read to youngsters at elementary schools, in each case bringing other teammates along with him. Last summer, Cupp was a counselor for "Pacific Pals," a daily workshop designed to give disadvantaged children the opportunity to participate in activities that are not typically available to them.

Cupp also helped with the flood-recovery efforts in Grand Forks, North Dakota, continuing a tradition of service he learned as a youngster from his own parents.

"Jason would help raise money for Special Olympics," recalled his father, Ken Cupp, a Canadian customs officer who has volunteered himself with Special Olympics and as a youth hockey coach.

"I also remember when he was 14 or 15 years old, he would dress up as 'Peter Puck' and skate with six-, seven- and eight-year olds," said the elder Cupp.

"My parents have always been supportive of me," Jason Cupp said. "They are really caring people, and they have truly led by example when it comes to helping others."

'College Hockey's Finest Citizen'

Cupp was one of five finalists for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, which was presented at the 2001 Men's Frozen Four. The other finalists were Christina Sorbara of Brown University, Ryan Reinheller of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Rocky Reeves of State University College at Buffalo and Gloria Sonnen of Bowdoin College.

"I am very surprised and shocked to be receiving this award. Just to be nominated was quite an honor," Cupp said.

Cupp also won the CCHA's humanitarian award, the Marian and Mike Ilitch Award.

"Jason is an exceptional young man," Kemp said. "He has always put others first."

Even the players at Nebraska-Omaha knew Cupp was someone special.

"People tend to gravitate to those who care for them, and the players knew that no one cared about them more than Jason," Kemp said. "That's one of the key reasons they voted for him as their captain."

In addition to his outstanding service to the community, and his skills in the ice hockey rink, Cupp is an excellent student. He will graduate this year with a major in criminal justice, and he has decided to enroll in Nebraska-Omaha's teacher's college next year to obtain a teaching certificate so he can teach and coach.

This was the sixth year the Hockey Humanitarian Award has been presented. Previous winners have been Jim Ledger of the University of Maine, Orono; Kristine Pierce of Rochester Institute of Technology; Erik Raygor of the University of Wisconsin, Madison; Blake Sloan of University of Michigan; and J.P. McKersie of Boston University