Thank you, Commodore fans

by CHAMPS

In response to the recent earthquake in Haiti, Vanderbilt student-athletes collected shoe donations in partnership with Soles4Souls at both the men’s and women’s basketball games at Memorial Gym this past weekend.

We received an overwhelming response from Commodore fans! Thanks to you, Vanderbilt will be contributing a large amount of shoes to the 1 million pairs Soles4Souls has committed to the victims in Haiti.

Check out the video below to see how many shoes were donated!



About Soles4Souls
Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. The charity distributes these shoes free of charge to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 5.5 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently donating one pair every 9 seconds.) The shoes have been distributed to people in over 125 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States. Soles4Souls has been featured in Runner's World, Ladies’ Home Journal, National Geographic’s Green Guide and The New York Times. It has appeared on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, BBC, CNN and thousands of regional news outlets across North America. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Anyone can join our cause, and we need your help. Visit www.giveshoes.org

Trick-or-treat extravaganza

by CHAMPS - On the evening of October 30th, members of Vanderbilt's fraternities and sororities, as well as student-athletes, hosted a fun and safe trick or treating event. Faculty, staff, and university affiliates were invited to bring their families to Greek Row for a trick-or-treat extravaganza.

Although the weather did not cooperate, Vanderbilt families came out despite the wind and rain to visit the Greek houses for candy and games. This was the second year for the event, and it provided a great opportunity for the Vanderbilt community to come together, as well as strengthening the continued partnership between Greek Life and Athletics.

Photo by Steve Green

WBB teaches healthy habits

By Weinman - Three seniors from the women's basketball team -- Lauren Lueders, Merideth Marsh and Jessica Mooney -- headed to Coopertown Middle School in Robertson County this morning to deliver a quick message about healthy habits during a Children's Health Week presentation.

A few hundred kids in grades four through eight got advice on staying hydrating, getting plenty of sleep and making smart eating choices. The Commodores also asked some healthy eating trivia questions (What fruit has 200 seeds on every piece...? Answered in the Photo Gallery), taught the children some pre-activity stretches and hosted a quick relay race.

For excerpts from each of the student-athletes' presentations and highlights of the relay race, check out the following video:

Mooney, Silvers at Cedar Grove Career Day

By Weinman - Senior women's basketball student-athlete Jessica Mooney and assistant director of marketing Jason Silvers took part in a career day this morning at Cedar Grove Elementary School in Smyrna. Mooney talked about what it takes to be a Division I student-athlete, while Silvers discussed marketing for sports teams.

A product of Nashville's Hillsboro High School, Mooney has made a point of giving back to the community that helped shape her. What's her motivation to send a positive message to the youth of Middle Tennessee?

"I really appreciated when people did it for me," Mooney said. "I love kids, and it's important for me to be able to give back."

WBB kicks off 2009 Kidney Walk

By Weinman - It may be game day for the football team down in Baton Rouge, but the Commodore women's basketball team is still two months away from tipping off its season. Student-athletes and support staff still were up bright and early on Saturday to volunteer at the 10th Annual Nashville Kidney Walk at River Park in Brentwood.

The team hosted shooting contests on the basketball court, giving away T-shirts and logo basketballs while interacting with many of those who gathered to participate in the fundraising event. The walk raised money for the National Kidney Foundation while raising awareness to the need for organ donation and kidney disease prevention. Recent studies indicate that kidney disease is on the rise and as many as 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease.

Click here to see a photo gallery from Saturday's Nashville Kidney Walk

The Nashville community has always been integral in the Commodores' success (Vanderbilt went 7-0 against SEC opponents last year in front of the home crowd at Memorial Gymnasium) and opportunities to give back by volunteering in the off-season are especially important to the team.

Alex Washington attends NCAA National Student-Athlete Leadership Conference

by CHAMPS - Vanderbilt Football's Alex Washington just returned from the NCAA National Student-Athlete Leadership Conference, May 24-27 at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Washington was among the 600+ student-athletes from Division I, II and III colleges and universities across the country who attended the conference.

"It was a great experience," Washington said. "I had a lot of fun making connections with student-athletes from other schools and particpating in the workshops."

Washington looks forward to utilizing the information he took away from the conference to make a difference on Vanderbilt's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in the Fall.

The NCAA National Leadership Conference is a forum in which student-athletes have an opportunity to enhance their leadership and decision-making skills and discuss key issues in intercollegiate athletics that affect them on their campus and in their community. The NCAA National Leadership Conference also promotes better communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and communities. The conference consists of daily exercises and activities to help the student-athletes develop as individuals and as contributing members to society.

During the leadership conference, student-athletes will discuss a variety of topics such as sportsmanship, substance abuse, social networking sites, hazing, recruiting climate, professional development and integrating student-athletes into campus. They will also discuss division-specific issues, create dialogue surrounding possible solutions to division-specific issues and discuss potential career direction. In addition to the speaker and discussion sessions, the student-athletes will participate in initiative and team building games at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. Coaches, athletics administrators and program facilitators will also attend. In addition, members from each division's national SAAC will facilitate at the event. SAAC provides feedback to NCAA committees and councils regarding student-athlete well-being issues and is the "voice" of the student-athlete within the NCAA governance structure.

Photos: Commodore Field Day

by CHAMPS - The Vanderbilt Athletics Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) welcomed 125 third and fourth graders to campus for its annual Field Day event Wednesday morning. Commodore student-athletes set up several activities for the kids ranging from a water balloon toss to tennis skills challenges.

Field Day is held on the reading day for the university, the day before semester exams begin. It's a great study break for the student-athletes, as well as a fun experience for the grade schoolers.

Click here to view Lindsay Rutledge's photos of the event.

Student-Athlete Holiday Party

Vanderbilt’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosted their annual Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 10th for first-graders from Ross Elementary. In the middle of finishing up the semester and studying for exams, the student-athletes took time out provide a special day for area youth.

All the teams were represented, as each team provided gifts for the kids. In addition to the presents, children had the opportunity to play games the chance to interact with Santa Claus, Vanderbilt Football’s own Adam Smotherman.

For a link to pictures taken by Steve Green at the Holiday Party, visit:

http://onlyfans.cstv.com/schools/vand/view.gal?id=39564

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) holds different events like this throughout the year for children in the Nashville community. Comprised of two student-athlete representatives from every sport, SAAC's goal is to connect student-athletes with their campus and community. SAAC is an extension of the CHAMPS/Life Skills program of Vanderbilt Athletics. CHAMPS stands for CHallenging Athletes Minds for Personal Success and is an NCAA supported program.