April 5, 2006
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - In recent weeks, several members of the Navy squash team engaged the community and looked for an opportunity to give back to residents of Annapolis that support the Naval Academy. Spearheaded by the efforts of sophomore William Eucker, the squash team introduced the game of squash to six Annapolis youth, ranging from fifth grade to 10th grade, who were selected because of their involvement in Box of Rain, a locally operated mentorship program geared to expose youth to nautical experiences (http://www.boxofrain.org/index.htm).
The squash team provided one-on-one instruction, demonstrations, and court running competitions, but also gave insight on the importance of sports in the context of development and education.
Following the squash instruction, the group made its way to Chauvenet Hall on the Yard of the Naval Academy where Professor Daryl Hartley leant his services. A professor in the physics department, Hartley demonstrated concepts of impulse and linear and angular momentum (with liquid nitrogen, bed sheet and egg, "chair of death," Frisbee and skateboard-ball-kid system). Following the morning-long squash and physics demonstrations, the group enjoyed lunch at the Drydock restaurant.
"Thanks to the midshipmen, Coach Dawson, and Professor Hartley who volunteered their time, as well as the generousity of the Naval Academy Athletic Association, Naval Academy Administration, and Physics Department that granted permission to use the squash courts and the academic facilities, the morning was highly successful," said Eucker. "We couldn't have accomplished the task without the planning and logistics that were orchestrated with Annapolis City Alderman Mike Christman."
The squash team, who is looking to conduct additional community service or mentoring events in the month of April, achieved many of the goals it had set out to accomplish - 1) Develop participants' self-confidence and independence, in both achieving athletic competence in an unfamiliar sport and enjoying the academic pursuit of knowledge, 2) Encourage disadvantaged and minority youth to succeed socially, athletically, and academically, 3) Expose participants to a top-tier institution of higher learning and athletic competition, 4) Stimulate participants to consider a career of service within the armed forces, 5) Amplify the connection between midshipmen and local Annapolis residents, 6) Develop midshipmen's facility in serving as selfless ambassadors of USNA, the U.S. Navy, and the United States of America.
G-o N-a-v-y
