The Community Service Award recognizes a CCAA member institution that has developed a successful community relations program. The Keyano College Huskies are this year's recipients based on the success of their Sports Outreach Program, which saw varsity athletes volunteer with local youth organizations.
"Keyano College has done an outstanding job with their Huskies Community Outreach Program," says Vince Amato, CCAA's vice-president of marketing. "Their student-athletes have really embraced the idea of giving back to their community."
Over the past two years, Keyano Huskies student-athletes have volunteered at local events and fundraisers, served as junior high school coaches and officials, and visited all 22 schools in the Fort McMurray region. Their presentations on the athletic and academic life of collegiate student-athletes were taken in by approximately 5,000 elementary and junior high school students, and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from school officials.
"You could see the Huskies athletes gain confidence and mature during the program," says Curtis J. Phillips, Keyano Huskies sports information officer. "They serve as community role models while also developing a future building block within the school system."
The award was presented at the CCAA's annual general meeting in Whistler, B.C. on Thursday, June 14, 2012.
