Salisbury University Field Hockey team volunteers time at Cancer Leadership Conference
The Salisbury University field hockey team has a proud tradition of working hard on the field and putting in extra hours to become one of the nation’s elite programs. That same work ethic can be applied to the Sea Gulls off the field. The SU field hockey team participated as volunteers at the Volunteer Leadership Conference for the Delaware/Delmarva, Maryland and National Capital Regions of the American Cancer Society held at the BWI Marriott on February 10-11. Over 250 ACS volunteers and staff attended the conference.

"It was an honor to be invited to help and support the efforts of the American Cancer Society. The work they do is truly saving lives and the organization thrives on the hard work and dedication of volunteers," said SU coach Dawn Chamberlin. "For us to volunteer made sense and made a difference."

The role of the student-athletes during the weekend included; attendee registration, speaker introductions, assist with the regional and national awards program that took place as well as some manual labor. Many of the Sea Gulls even participated in some of the workshops offered like cancer screening and education to learning about the various programs the ACS has to offer.

"The volunteers were so excited to know that college students decided to take time to spend with them," said junior Ashley Cartrette, a nursing major at SU. "They were thanking us over and over again. But we want to thank them for the work they do to try to find a cure for this dreaded disease."

In 2005, Coach Chamberlin and the team dedicated the field hockey season to Ashley's mother (Regina Usilton) who was battling breast cancer. The Sea Gulls won their third straight national championship and Regina is in remission from her cancer.

Senior captain Megan Powell is currently interning with the American Cancer Society.

"I am so excited to be working with an organization like the American Cancer Society and I know that it will broaden my appreciation for the work this group does to improve the quality of life for everyone," said Powell, a Perdue School marketing major.

The field hockey team was asked to volunteer based on their previous involvement with Relay for Life and other cancer awareness activities. The Sea Gulls received plenty of compliments throughout the weekend from the conference coordinators for the impact the student-athletes had on the very successful weekend. Many of the players are already eager to sign-up for next year's conference.

SU publication staff member Sam Gibson attended the conference as well and served with Chamberlin as volunteer photographers for the weekend.

"I am proud of my team and proud of the way they represented themselves, our team, Sea Gull Athletics and Salisbury University," said Chamberlin.

To learn more about the American Cancer Society please visit their Web site www.cancer.org.

Some more pictures from the weekend: