Oberlin College athletes earn community service award

OBERLIN — The Oberlin College Department of Athletics and Physical Education is the recipient of the 2021-2022 National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators Community Service Award.

“Our student-athletes continually display their character and compassion for others, which inspires me on a daily basis,” said Associate Vice President for Athletics Advancement Natalie Winkelfoos.

“Throughout their rigorous academic responsibilities and busy athletics schedule, they are always willing to step up and make an im- pact. Caring is truly our competitive advantage.”

Members of the college’s 21 varsity athletics team completed more than 2,050 hours of community service this past year.

Activities ranged from participating in Helping Hands, with each team sponsoring a family in need over the holiday season, to hosting trick-ortreating for the kids in the community, to raising $45,000 for Shoes and Clothes for Kids.

Other initiatives include the annual “Play Like a Girl” event, a Black History Month celebration raising

HERE’S A SHOUT OUT!

Twice a month, students and staff at Wellington High School take the “shout out cart” around the building, handing out

Dukes T-shirts, snacks and positive vibes. The cart was funded by a grant from the Wellington Schools Endowment Fund.

Photos provided money for the Black Women in Sport Foundation and special awareness and fundraising efforts surrounding breast cancer, epilepsy and domestic violence.

TOP: Juniors Ned Gott, Hope Dudziak, Gabby Miller, Lily Oswald and Laura Jimenez Rodriquez spread positive vibes with the shout out cart.

BOTTOM: Jean Johnston, a paraprofessional at Wellington High School, reacts to receiving a shout out and a prize.

Teams have rolled up their sleeves to volunteer at Kendal at Oberlin nursing home and at George Jones Memorial Farm. Oberlin athletes have also done work at the Legion Field Community Garden, Western Reserve Land Conservancy and volunteer at the Oberlin City Schools. Oberlin was selected out of 20 nominees in the “Array of Projects” category.

Black history program

A Black History Month program called “Telling New Stories About Black History in Oberlin” will be held from 4-5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4 via Zoom. It will be sponsored by the Wilson Bruce Evans Home Historical Society, The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue Theater Project and the Oberlin College Africana studies and theater departments. Join the meeting at tinyurl.com/ OberlinBlackHistory.

A reader’s best friend

Canine reading buddies will visit the Amherst Public Library at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21. All ages are invited to read to licensed therapy dogs. Take a favorite book or use one from the library’s collection.

Critters are ‘Broadway Bound’

The Lorain County Metro Parks Critter Crew will present “Broadway Bound,” with shows at 11 a.m. and noon on Sunday, Feb. 5 at the French Creek Nature Center, 4530 Colorado Ave., Sheffield. Join Harry and Scarlet of the Critter Crew on their quest for fame. Register and pay $5 per person by Feb. 5. Children 2 and under are free and do not need to register. Register at www.tinyurl.com/Crit terCrew.