Marcia_Neville's Blog

So…

Who’re the real winners in mentorship programs?  Turns out… everyone!  Last fall, when Metro State University’s brandnew women’s softball team decided to make community outreach a major part of their program, the team at Denver West High School was the lucky beneficiary.  Now, both programs have been recognized by the NCAA with it’s “Community Engagement Award.”

Responding to the award, and the innovative program, Metro State athletic Director Joan McDermott observed, “This is a great opportunity.  It’s important that our student-athletes realize they have a responsibility to give back to the community.”  The West High girls described the Roadrunners as generous.  “The way they’re dedicating their time to help our team and our school is really awesome”, explained Rainy Santillanez.  “They’ve really given us a lot of confidence.”

Former Colorado prepsters Kaylee Vessey (Highlands Ranch) and Danni Hedstrom (Fort Collins) claim the Roadrunners are the ones who really scored big.  “It felt good to know that the girls were listening, that they wanted to learn and we were making an impact.  Plus, everytime we taught them something, it reminded us to build up our own skills.  It helped us as players, students, and teammates.”