Proud of students

I want to congratulate both the men's and women's hockey teams on their successful seasons. The No. 1-ranked men's team skated to a 2-1 victory over third-seeded St. Norbert College in the 2010 NCAA Division III National Championship game Saturday afternoon in Lake Placid, New York. This was the third national championship for the Cadets, who previously won the title in 2000 and 2003. The men finished their season with an impressive record of 25-1-4.

In just their third year as a varsity program, the women's hockey team made it to the NCAA national championship game, which was played at Gustavus Adolphus College in Wisconsin. The Cadets were seeded No. 10, and were faced with an incredible uphill battle against the No. 1-ranked defending champion Amherst team. Despite their best efforts, the women fell 7-2 to the Lord Jeffs. The Norwich women's hockey team ended the season as the second best team in the nation, with an excellent record of 20-7-5.

 I am very proud of all athletes and coaches on these teams. They have done a wonderful job representing Norwich and bringing pride to the university.

This year, rather than spending time relaxing with family or friends, 30 Norwich students, faculty, and staff spent their vacations giving back to others as part of the Alternative Spring Break program organized by the Center for Civic Engagement. Three different trips were offered.

One Norwich group went to a Habitat for Humanity site in Springfield, Mass. These students built walls and support structures offsite for a home that will be constructed when the ground thaws later this spring. The volunteers also attended a local basketball game and were embraced by the community, allowing them to learn more about Springfield, its residents, and their needs.

A second group went to the Head Start and Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen in Baltimore, Md. Volunteers on this trip served meals at the inner-city soup kitchen and also tutored and mentored local youth.  The Norwich students were hosted by several area NU alums.

The third Alternative Spring Break trip was to Heifer Project International's Overlook Farm in Rutland, Mass. Here volunteers learned about HPI's national and international efforts to promote and support sustainable development and agriculture through service-learning workshops and direct hands-on farm work. The week included farm chores, a brush-clearing service project and activities regarding population and global food distribution. Participants also had the opportunity to "spend a night in Poland" at the Learning Center's Global Village, where they bartered for dinner cooked on a woodstove and slept in a log cabin.

The students who participated on these trips are living Norwich's Guiding Value of service to others. In the future, even more students should consider taking part in the Alternative Spring Break program.

It is time to open the books and prepare for that final academic push before the end of the year. Final exams are a little more than a month away. I hope that everyone is well-rested and ready to have a strong finish to the semester.