Soccer uses spring semester to serve locally
Feb. 23, 2010  Photo Gallery
Andy Ortegon, Texas Media Relations Last week, The University of Texas Soccer team spent the afternoon at The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, sharing knowledge -- and passion for the game -- with a few of the school's young student-athletes. "We just try to show the kids that they can be both a student and an athlete," team captain Erica Campanelli said. "We want them to know that they can be in our shoes someday, because they look up to us." The recent visit was one of many community services outings the soccer team has planned for this spring. The squad is using this proactive effort to give back to the community, which has supported the Longhorns throughout their time at the Forty Acres. "We all realized that we've been blessed to be student-athletes at The University of Texas," Campanelli said. "And it's not good enough to keep our knowledge and passion for the game to ourselves. We have to get out in the community, show the kids how great soccer is, how great Texas is and how great they can become." Some of the most recent events that the Longhorns have been a part of include, National Girls and Women in Sports Day and Marathon Kids, a program that promotes children's health by encouraging children to run or walk a marathon's distance in the course of a few months. "The Marathon Kids event was one of my favorites," Campanelli said. "It is always makes your day to see genuine excitement on a kid's face. And that day the kids looked excited and really felt accomplished." This upcoming Friday the Longhorns will spend their evening at the Special Olympics in San Marcos, assisting athletes and taking part in the Olympic festivities. "We are all really excited about the Special Olympics," Campanelli said. "It is an event that, we feel, is a true honor to be a part of in any way." The Longhorns are also trying to coordinate a few other events for the remainder of their semester. "It would be nice if we could touch everybody's heart," Campanelli said. "But, we do what we can. And at the end of the day, I just want to be able to look back on my experience and say that I gave back to Texas and to Austin, as much as they have given to me."
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