East Coast Conference Hosts ECC: Experience in Community and Character Leadership Workshop

April 28, 2009

East Coast Conference Hosts ECC: Experience in Community and Character Leadership Workshop 

(L-R) Ashley Borofsky, Michael Fernandes and Ashley Finnegan

Central Islip, NY - Armed with pillows, blankets, institution apparel and open minds, forty East Coast Conference student-athletes gathered at the conference office located on the NYIT Central Islip campus for the first-ever Experience in Community and Character leadership workshop.  Mercy College was represented by sophomore Michael Fernandes (Mt. Vernon, NY) from the men's soccer team, and sophomores Ashley Finnegan (Worcester, MA) and Ashley Borofsky (Southington, CT) from the women's basketball team.

"What a great opportunity for me to be part of the first ECC - Experience in Community and Character leadership workshop," reflected ECC Commission Bob Dranoff.  "I never get tired at seeing how amazingly talented our student athletes are; whether they are competing in athletic events, working in the classroom, or taking part in programs like this." 

The two day event focused on comradely and character development.   Local professionals, including Bill Martinov, Executive Dean for Student-Services & Leadership at Mercy College, Indera Rampal-Harrod, Director of Employee Relations at American Express and Jerry Mackey, a Vice President of Wealth Management at Smith Barney, hosted seminars on leadership, fiscal management and career preparation.

In the afternoon, the student-athletes traded in their paper and pens for gloves and pickers for a community clean-up.  Keep Islip Clean Executive Director Nancy Cochran and Islip Town Clerk Regina Duffy were on hand to help kick-off the event.  The group collected over fifty bags of garbage from the streets and train station in Central Islip.

At night, the student-athletes came together for bowling, rock band competitions and open gym time.  There was even an appearance made by local comedian Robert "Sink" Sinkler.

"I believe that the conference office has as its mission not just to help run athletic championships and assist with compliance issues, but we need to be involved in  offering programs that help with the overall growth of our student athletes; to help provide the tools that will make them successful in the world," Dranoff continued.  "We look forward to ways we can improve this event for next year so that it is something that all our student athletes want to attend."

The Experience in Community and Character retreat is just one example of how the East Coast Conference is fulfilling its mission to promote the total person concept in its student-athletes.   After two days of working together as teammates instead of competitors, these forty student-athletes from seven different ECC institutions not only have the tools to position themselves for success in the future, but they have also made connections and built friendships that will outlast their four years participating in intercollegiate athletics.

What the Student-Athletes are saying about the event:

"I really enjoyed meeting other athletes on Long Island."
                -Amanda Miller, C.W. Post

"It was great to meet other student-athletes within our conference and get to know them on a deeper level, not just who they are on the track, field, or court, but as individuals."
                -Chelsea Klinger, St. Thomas Aquinas College

"I liked meeting new people; it was cool to talk with the same people that I play against on the court."
                -Lauren Caggiano, NYIT

"I enjoyed meeting other athletes from other institutions; it's nice to see them when we are not playing against each other."
                -Shelby Klein, NYIT

"I enjoyed interacting and collaborating with people of different backgrounds and institutions."
                -Brian Buckmire, Queens College

"It was an effective method of leadership development with worthwhile advice for our futures."
                -Doug Leresche, Queens College

"I had a lot of fun participating in the ice breaker games."
                -Brittany Schuler, Queens College

"I thought it was good especially the guest speakers, they taught a lot of helpful things."
                -Dominic Scurry, NYIT

"It was great to learn things from student-athletes from other schools that we can take back to our own campuses and share with our teammates/schoolmates."
                -Chris Green, Dowling College

"The leadership retreat was a privilege and a great experience to meet people outside of your own school."
                -Maria Saitta, Dowling College

"The retreat opened many doors and allowed people to meet other student-athletes."
                -Luke Culicerto, Queens

"This weekend was special in that ECC rivals were playing on the same team."
                -Jason Fiscina, Molloy College

"I was able to get leadership skills I can use in my professional career and for the rest of my life."
                -Andrew Gangemi, St. Thomas Aquinas College

"I enjoyed interacting with student-athletes from other teams within the East Coast Conference."
                -Jennifer Dwyer, Molloy College

"It was a fun-filled weekend of learning and meeting new people."
                -Dearbhna Coen, Dowling College

"It was a great way to spend time with my teammates, but also to meet new people.  This weekend was a great opportunity to get out of my box and have a great time."
                -Kristina Gustafson, C.W. Post

"I like the idea of the retreat because this is a great opportunity for better relationships between conference schools."
                -Damir Hamza, Dowling College

"This was a wonderful experience.  I learned a lot from it."
                -Michael Fernandes, Mercy College

"This weekend was exciting and informative while learning from the speakers.  It was great to clean up and help out the community."
                -Ashley Borofsky, Mercy College

"I enjoyed this weekend because of the opportunity it gave me to meet people I may have never met or gotten to know from different institutions."
                -Brianna Layton, Dowling College

"I had a great experience this weekend getting to know all different athletes from all different places."
                -Helene Bruckner, C.W. Post

"The recreational time gave a great opportunity to mingle with our fellow SAAC members from elsewhere."
                -Andres Cabrera, Queens College

"It was great meeting and interacting with other athletes this weekend."
                -Ivana Young, Queens College

"Cleaning up the Community, not only gives back to the neighborhood, but also ourselves."
                -Ashley Finnegan, Mercy College

"This retreat was a great idea.  Bringing the schools together offers us a different way to look at other institutions.  I was able to put my rivalries aside to understand that we are all the same."
                -Alicia Commisso, Dowling College

"This was a motivational experience in which we found and self-realized our leadership potential."
                -Erica Rodriguez, Queens College

"I thought this was good experience because you got to get to know other athletes in a fun and relaxed atmosphere."
                -Samantha Portela, Molloy College

About the ECC
Founded as the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1989 and rechristened the East Coast Conference in July 2006, the ECC was formed to enhance intercollegiate athletic competition among member institutions and to assist them in integrating athletics into their academic program in a fiscally sound way. The ECC is committed to the highest standards of scholarship, sportsmanship, teamwork, and citizenship. Its mission is to promote the total person concept in its student-athletes, which stresses the abilities to excel in academic achievement, athletic competition, and positive character traits. East Coast Conference (www.eccsports.org) members for 2008-2009 include: Adelphi University (Garden City, NY); University of Bridgeport (CT); Concordia College (Bronxville, NY); C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University (Brookville, NY); Dowling College (Oakdale, NY); Mercy College (Dobbs Ferry, NY); Molloy College (Rockville Centre, NY); New York Institute of Technology (Old Westbury, N.Y); Queens College (Flushing, NY); and St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, NY).

The ECC sponsors the following championship sports: baseball; men's and women's basketball; men's and women's cross country; men's and women's lacrosse; softball; men's and women's tennis; men's and women's soccer; and women's volleyball.

The East Coast Conference is a proud member of the NCAA and Division II. Division II is a dynamic and engaging group of colleges, institutions and conferences of varying sizes and educational missions. Division II members encourage and support diversity; value sportsmanship, fairness and equity; and place the highest priority on the overall educational excellence of the student-athlete.