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Athletes of Distinction
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 20,286 Number of female student-athletes that participated in an NJCAA sport during the 2008-09 academic year -- up from 19,071 that competed in 2007-08.
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USC Salkehatchie Softball Helps Community Raise Breast Cancer Awareness
The USC Salkehatchie Lady Indians traveled to Lexington, SC to kick-off a Breast Cancer Awareness campaign with the Red Hotts, an 8-10 yr old girl's fast-pitch recreational league softball team. On a rainy day in Lexington, South Carolina the USC Salkehatchie Lady Indians were on hand to sign autographs, interact with the young players and give instruction on softball techniques. The Red Hotts were in awe of the Lady Indians as is evident in the photo's taken below. Many of the Red Hotts on hand, asked the girls what it was like to play college softball and things like how their uniforms looked and if they wore hats when they played. The Red Hotts came up with the idea to bring attention to Breast Cancer Awareness one day at a practice. "I was thinking these young ladies need to learn about giving back to their community. I want them to learn every aspect of softball but as a parent, I thought wouldn't it be great if they could learn something about giving back. It seems every time you open a newspaper, all you read about is kids getting in trouble, these girls came up with raising money for breast cancer awareness on their own, they are proving that if young people set their mind to it, they can make a difference," said the Red Hotts head coach Trevor Kinnard. Even in a light down-pour the Lady Indians took the time to go out in the field and teach the Red Hotts the basics of softball. Many of the Lady Indians gave the players one on one time to teach them about playing their position on the field. In what had to be one of the greatest days in USC Salkehatchie Lady Indians softball history, it was great to see our girls giving back to the community.
From the 1940s until recently, the rate of new cases of breast cancer in the United States increased by a little over one percent a year. In the 1980s the rate of new cases rose markedly (likely due to increased screening), and during the 1990s the rate of new cases leveled off. Since 2003 there has been a marked decline in the rate of new breast cancer cases. In 2008 alone, 182,460 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in American women alone. Worldwide, the figure is in the millions. Even though you would think breast cancer awareness raises enough money for research each year, much more is needed to eradicate it all together.
The USC Salkehatchie Lady Indians are planning to raise awareness for breast cancer during one of their fall games.
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USC Salkehatchie head coach Mitch Smith said, " Today is great, it shows that we have great girls that volunteered their time to come out and make a difference in these young girls life. I know that many of them will never forget what today is about. It is great for me as a coach to see the Lady Indians interact with the Red Hotts and see the looks on the little girls faces as we signed autographs and gave instruction, this is why I first got into coaching. It is great that we were able to help them with their kick-off campaign to raise awareness for breast cancer."
Coach Kinnard said," We hope to raise awareness and money for research during the other teams games. We plan to wear our USC Salkehatchie shirts with the pink ribbon to let people understand that it takes everyone to help raise awareness. I want to thank the USC Salkehatchie athletic department, Athletic Director- Mrs. Jane Brewer, Trent Kinnard-Sports Information Director and Dean Ann Carmichael, for allowing the Lady Indians to be a part of this kick-off. I can never thank USC Salkehatchie enough for being here with us for this event. What today has shown me is the need for the two-year junior colleges in the state of South Carolina and across this country. The young ladies that attend USC Salkehatchie are some of the best young ladies, I have ever had the privilege to meet."