I have previously written about URI's outstanding student athletes. They provide leadership, service, diversity, and so much more, to our campus community - in addition to representing the University of Rhode Island in competition and in many other ways. Here are just a few recent examples: over 75 student-athletes, representing all 18 varsity teams, participated in "Rhody Reads" - reading to nearly 1,000 kids at four elementary schools; 50 student athletes volunteered at the Rhode Island Special Olympics, hosted at URI; student athletes regularly volunteer and raise funds for Habitat for Humanity; URI baseball has hosted an Autism Awareness Day for six years; and multiple teams raised funds for breast cancer research and treatment.
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| Donating bone marrow |
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| Supporting Special Olympics |
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| Building a house |
URI's student athletes continue to excel in their academic work. For the spring semester of 2014 our student athletes posted a combined GPA of 2.96 (3.16 for the women and 2.78 for the men. 33% of them were on the Dean's List. This performance is among the best in recent years.
To thank all of our student athletes for their dedication and achievement, Lynn and I hosted the teams for an outdoor cookout at our house on September 7th . We have frequently invited teams over, but this was the first time we had all of our teams at once (excepting mens soccer, who were away). The coaches, their families, and Rhody joined us as well. I think a great time was had by all, as the photos below will indicate. Not every team could pose for a photo, and I couldn't fit all the pictures in, so I'll post more at another time.
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| Loading up |
The food | Rhody colors were in evidence |
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| Athletes at work |
AD Thorr Bjorn chows down |
Macro Jenga |
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| Rhody at bat |
Rowing |
Basketball |
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| Softball |
Basketball |
Football |
