East Coast Conference Hosts Experience in Community and Character Leadership Workshop
Armed with pillows, blankets, institution apparel and open minds, forty East Coast Conference student-athletes gathered at the conference office located on the NYIT Central Islip campus for the first-ever Experience in Community and Character leadership workshop. Drew Gangemi and Chelsea Klinger, both of the Cross Country and Track & Field teams, represented St. Thomas Aquinas College at the conference.
"What a great opportunity for me to be part of the first ECC - Experience in Community and Character leadership workshop," reflected ECC Commission Bob Dranoff. "I never get tired at seeing how amazingly talented our student athletes are; whether they are competing in athletic events, working in the classroom, or taking part in programs like this."
The two day event focused on comradely and character development. Local professionals, including Bill Martinov, Executive Dean for Student-Services & Leadership at Mercy College, Indera Rampal-Harrod, Director of Employee Relations at American Express and Jerry Mackey, a Vice President of Wealth Management at Smith Barney, hosted seminars on leadership, fiscal management and career preparation.
In the afternoon, the student-athletes traded in their paper and pens for gloves and pickers for a community clean-up. Keep Islip Clean Executive Director Nancy Cochran and Islip Town Clerk Regina Duffy were on hand to help kick-off the event. The group collected over fifty bags of garbage from the streets and train station in Central Islip.
At night, the student-athletes came together for bowling, rock band competitions and open gym time. There was even an appearance made by local comedian Robert "Sink" Sinkler.
"I believe that the conference office has as its mission not just to help run athletic championships and assist with compliance issues, but we need to be involved in offering programs that help with the overall growth of our student athletes; to help provide the tools that will make them successful in the world," Dranoff continued. "We look forward to ways we can improve this event for next year so that it is something that all our student athletes want to attend."
The Experience in Community and Character retreat is just one example of how the East Coast Conference is fulfilling its mission to promote the total person concept in its student-athletes. After two days of working together as teammates instead of competitors, these forty student-athletes from seven different ECC institutions not only have the tools to position themselves for success in the future, but they have also made connections and built friendships that will outlast their four years participating in intercollegiate athletes.
What the Student-Athletes are saying about the event:
"I really enjoyed meeting other athletes on Long Island."
-Amanda Miller, C.W. Post
"It was great to meet other student-athletes within our
conference and get to know them on a deeper level, not just who
they are on the track, field, or court, but as individuals."
-Chelsea Klinger, St. Thomas Aquinas College
"I liked meeting new people; it was cool to talk with the same
people that I play against on the court."
-Lauren Caggiano, NYIT
"I enjoyed meeting other athletes from other institutions; it's
nice to see them when we are not playing against each other."
-Shelby Klein, NYIT
"I enjoyed interacting and collaborating with people of
different backgrounds and institutions."
-Brian Buckmire, Queens College
"It was an effective method of leadership development with
worthwhile advice for our futures."
-Doug Leresche, Queens College
"I had a lot of fun participating in the ice breaker games."
-Brittany Schuler, Queens College
"I thought it was good especially the guest speakers, they
taught a lot of helpful things."
-Dominic Scurry, NYIT
"It was great to learn things from student-athletes from other
schools that we can take back to our own campuses and share with
our teammates/schoolmates."
-Chris Green, Dowling College
"The leadership retreat was a privilege and a great experience
to meet people outside of your own school."
-Maria Saitta, Dowling College
"The retreat opened many doors and allowed people to meet other
student-athletes."
-Luke Culicerto, Queens
"This weekend was special in that ECC rivals were playing on the
same team."
-Jason Fiscina, Molloy College
"I was able to get leadership skills I can use in my
professional career and for the rest of my life."
-Andrew Gangemi, St. Thomas Aquinas College
"I enjoyed interacting with student-athletes from other teams
within the East Coast Conference."
-Jennifer Dwyer, Molloy College
"It was a fun-filled weekend of learning and meeting new
people."
-Dearbhna Coen, Dowling College
"It was a great way to spend time with my teammates, but also to
meet new people. This weekend was a great opportunity to get
out of my box and have a great time."
-Kristina Gustafson, C.W. Post
"I like the idea of the retreat because this is a great
opportunity for better relationships between conference
schools."
-Damir Hamza, Dowling College
"This was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot from
it."
-Michael Fernandes, Mercy College
"This weekend was exciting and informative while learning from
the speakers. It was great to clean up and help out the
community."
-Ashley Borofsky, Mercy College
"I enjoyed this weekend because of the opportunity it gave me to
meet people I may have never met or gotten to know from different
institutions."
-Brianna Layton, Dowling College
"I had a great experience this weekend getting to know all
different athletes from all different places."
-Helene Bruckner, C.W. Post
"The recreational time gave a great opportunity to mingle with
our fellow SAAC members from elsewhere."
-Andres Cabrera, Queens College
"It was great meeting and interacting with other athletes this
weekend."
-Ivana Young, Queens College
"Cleaning up the Community, not only gives back to the
neighborhood, but also ourselves."
-Ashley Finnegan, Mercy College
"This retreat was a great idea. Bringing the schools
together offers us a different way to look at other
institutions. I was able to put my rivalries aside to
understand that we are all the same."
-Alicia Commisso, Dowling College
"This was a motivational experience in which we found and
self-realized our leadership potential."
-Erica Rodriguez, Queens College
"I thought this was good experience because you got to get to
know other athletes in a fun and relaxed atmosphere."
-Samantha Portela, Molloy College
