TicketsMarch 14, 2007
CINCINNATI, Ohio--The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics was recognized by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS) for its efforts during the 2005-06 academic year in both degree completion and community service at the 2007 NCAS Annual Conference. UC was one of 21 schools nationally named to the NCAS "Honor Roll" on both lists.
"Our student-athletes do an outstanding job of representing themselves and being involved in the community," stated Director of Athletics Mike Thomas. "People understand how much these young people compete to win championships, but they are achieving more by engaging others outside the UC family through programs like C.P.A.W.S."
A total of 30 schools named to the "Honor Roll" for degree completion while 36 were honored for community service.
UC's Committee to Promote Student-Athlete Welfare and Success (C.P.A.W.S.) organization keyed the Bearcats' recognition in community service and outreach. C.P.A.W.S. sponsors a dinner once a month at the Ronald McDonald House. Bearcat student-athletes regularly visit Children's Hospital to play with and entertain patients in the activity center. Last year UC teams visited elementary schools in Greater Cincinnati to stress the importance of education and invited fourth, fifth and sixth grade students to shadow student-athletes. The Bearcats collected almost $5,000 for UC's Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund; hosted youth soccer clinic; canned food collection drive for local food pantries. They celebrated the holiday season by collecting, purchasing gifts and food for undereprivileged families. The winter clothing and food care package drive for local food pantry and homeless shelter continued to grow. They distributed awards and assisted with local Special Olympics and raised almost $3,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Bearcats family reached over 15,000 youth and donated more than 10,000 tickets to UC athletic events.
NCAS sponsors the Degree Completion program for former student-athletes whose athletic eligibility has been exhausted, but require additional academic credits in order to graduate. Those student-athletes receive tuition money from their institution and participate in various community or university service programs in exchange.
Through the Operation Recall program, 11 University of Cincinnati student-athletes returned to school and continued on assistance after the completion of their eligibility. Ten Bearcats utilized this program to graduate during the 2005-06 academic year.
The National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS), housed at the University of Central Florida, is an organization of colleges, universities and individuals. The mission of the NCAS is to create a better society by focusing on educational attainment and using the power and appeal of sport to positively affect social change.