NEW GROUP SEEKS TO PROMOTE REALISTIC
ROLE MODELS
Viking Elite Student Athletes
form on Dana campus
As an NAIA Champion of Character institution, Dana
College supports the initiative to improve the image of sport and
bring focus back to the true spirit of the
game.
“In this time when the sports pages are filled
with stories about fighting spectators, over-zealous parents, wife
abusing, drug impacted, self entitled
athletes and mercenary coaches who chase the highest contract, the National
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is piloting a program
to define who we really
are, focus on character and reclaiming the true spirit of the game,” said
Bruce Brown, special presenter for the NAIA.
Dana recently formed the Viking
Elite Student Athletes organization to recognize athletes with outstanding
character and promote realistic role models in our
community.
“Currently we have 24 student athletes involved in off-campus activities. The
activities include visits to Crowell Home, Cooper Village, Blair West Elementary,
and the Cardio Club at Dana College. Things are going well and I have had
positive feedback from everyone involved with this project,” said Pat Morris,
assistant football coach. Morris and Athletic Director Jim Krueger along developed
and implemented the VESA program. In the future, the program will be led by a
leadership council of student athletes.
“The program is a way for us to give back to
the community. That’s
the reason I’m involved — to give something back,” said
VESA member Michelle Simon (Omaha, Neb.).
Simon has been reading to students
at Blair West Elementary school this
semester. The school’s “Character Counts” program
is similar to the NAIA’s
Champions of Character initiative. Dana’s VESA members read books
to the kids that illustrate a certain character trait, such as respect
or responsibility,
and then lead a brief discussion about why good character is important.
After reading a book about responsibility, the students
in Mrs. Dale’s
class told VESA member John Synowicki (Omaha, Neb.) that in order
to be a responsible football player he needs to memorize all of
the plays.
Synowicki agreed as students
begged him to come to recess.
Dana’s Campus Character Representative
Leslie Rasmussen said, “The
reading program is a great example of what VESA is all about. Elementary
school students look up to the college student athletes who provide
a realistic example
of good character. The college student athletes speak about real-life
situations that happen in Blair, Nebraska. Stars and TV messages
are great, but when someone
you admire looks you in the eyes and tells you to work hard in
school, you take it to heart.”
VESA also aims to provide a
growing experience for the college student athletes.
VESA members
like Melissa Respeliers (Council Bluffs, Iowa) have been visiting
Crowell Nursing Home. Respeliers became good friends
with
a resident named
Betty. She says though Betty often couldn’t remember her
name, she always remembered that Respeliers was interested in photography
and borrowed books on the subject
to share with her. Betty also impressed upon her visitors the importance
of knowing where you come from — your family’s history.
Respeliers said she chose to participate in the VESA
activity because “it
is fun to get to know people and it’s something good to do
for the school.”
VESA is always looking for new opportunities
for community involvement. Anyone interested in contacting VESA
should call Pat Morris or
Leslie Rasmussen at Dana College, 426-7290.
Dana College is a place
where all students actively participate. They make things happen — in
their own lives and in the lives of others. Through a highly supportive
faculty and campus community, Dana students develop interpersonal
skills, leadership abilities, and other important values and knowledge
as they
make choices about their future. Dana’s outstanding academic
programs in business, education, art and social work, among others,
ensure that students
have the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to pursue challenging
careers or placement in graduate school.
Dana College is a private,
liberal arts institution in Blair, Neb. To learn more, visit www.dana.edu.
Dana
College: Develop talents, Take charge, Build a future — We’re
with you all the way.
—
END—
For more information contact:
Leslie Rasmussen
Sports Information Director
Dana College
(402) 426-7949
lrassmus@dana.edu
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