Every student-athlete understands the value of teamwork. Recently the State University of New York Athletic Conference demonstrated the concept perfectly when the league sponsored a leaf-raking day for seniors.

On November 6, student-athletes from each SUNYAC member institution volunteered to assist in the effort in their communities. More than 1,300 student-athletes helped clear 232 sites.

The project, previously conducted at conference member State University College at Geneseo, was spearheaded by Susan Hoffman, associate director of athletics, senior woman administrator and CHAMPS/Life Skills coordinator at Brockport State University.

"In our community, people sometimes have a bad impression of students in general. I thought this was a perfect opportunity to show the good in our student-athletes," Hoffman said.

At Brockport State, 216 student-athletes raked leaves for about 30 elderly residents.

Meg Stevens, head women's lacrosse coach, CHAMPS/Life Skills coordinator and SAAC advisor at State University College at Buffalo, said her school is the only league member located close to an urban area. As a result, the 200 student-athletes who participated there completed a range of community projects such as raking leaves, picking up trash and planting more than 400 daffodil bulbs. All of the activity occurred within one mile of the campus.

"It was an amazing experience. I think our students got to see, one, how lucky they are, and two, I think it was a really good experience for them to get out in the community. Student-athletes already have talked about doing it again," Stevens said.