TROY News Center

TROY – Troy University College of Health and Human Services students will be participating in the Central American Games in Costa Rica as part of a spring break study-abroad trip.

Three athletic training students will provide support to the games, which sets the stage for Central American nations’ Olympic teams, much in the same way the U.S. Nationals contribute to Olympic teams from the United States.

“This is an outstanding way for our students to get real-world experience, as well as share techniques we use in our country that are not in widespread practice in some other parts of the world,” said Dr. Amanda Benson, who chairs the department and will lead the athletic training team.

She and her students will work speed skating, men’s soccer, tae kwon do, fronton (handball), boxing, karate do and wrestling events March 12 – 13 in and near San Jose, Costa Rica.

They won’t be alone on the trip, however, five social work and rehabilitation students, and one sport management student, will also be on the trip.

The Social Work and Rehabilitation team, led by Dr. Denise Green, will present a workshop on the forensic interview of children, and assist in research and data collection at the Joint Social Welfare Institute, a government-run program that partners several organizations aimed at keeping children from poor homes in school.

The Sport Management team, led by faculty member Dr. Anthony Dixon, will focus on the Central American Games’ overall management.

All the students will participate in “cultural immersion” activities – including staying with host Costa Rican families – and visit several national points of interest.

“This is a chance for our students to both do meaningful academic work and gain exposure into life in Central America,” Benson said.

Sponsored by the University’s partner in Costa Rica, the Universidad de Iberoamerica, and partially funded by a Study Abroad Grant supported by faculty in the Social Work, Rehabilitation and Human Service Department, the students will depart on March 7 and return on March 15. All students and faculty received a portion of the grant to offset expenses.

Participating in the trip is:

• Monica Bates, a junior athletic training major from Wapakoneta, Ohio;
• Hannah Dunn, a junior athletic training major from Tallassee;
• Camille Forte, a sophomore athletic training major from Madison;
• Christina Brown, a junior rehabilitation major from Auburn;
• Haley Danner, a junior social work major from Ashford;
• Tandy Harvell, a junior social work major from Troy;
• JoAnna Hernandez, a senior social work major from Dothan;
• MaKayla Stone, a junior social work major from Opelika; and
• Stevon Douglas, a senior sport management eTroy student from Pembroke Pines, Fla.

NEW ORLEANS – In a community more than six hours away from their home port, Troy University students made a difference for one community Saturday as part of events surround Super Bowl XLVII.

Some 19 Sport and Fitness Management students and faculty participated in the inaugural Super Saturday of Service as part of a five-day volunteer trip to the city, ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Working at the Kingswood Playspot location in the New Orleans East section of the city, participants landscaped areas of the playground, painted picnic tables and benches, and provided light house maintenance to surrounding homes in the community.

This location was one of five area locales that benefited from the Super Saturday of Service, which partnered local residents, community organizations and civic leaders to help build up areas that were ravaged by Hurricane Katrina and other major storms over the last seven years. 

“The Super Saturday of Service is something that brings people from all over New Orleans, other states, and other regions together to really work in communities, with locals, to rebuild their area,” said Kim Allen, community activist and site leader for the Kingswood project. “It might mean building a playground, cleaning up an area or building a community garden.

“But by working together, we are really making a difference here in New Orleans. With our out of state guests, it really allows them to get a feel for locals that is more than just your typical, New Orleans experience.”

In addition, students participated in the NFL’s Play 60 program with area youth and second-year New Orleans Saints defensive back, Isa Abdul-Quddus.

“This was a great opportunity for our students to participate in a program that they may not have normally experienced before,” said Assistant Professor of Sport Management Dr. Michael Martinez, who is also a native of the New Orleans area. “New Orleans is more well-known as a tourist destination, but there are many sections of the city that are not normally showcased, especially after Katrina. It was a truly humbling experience for our group to work hand-in-hand with local residents on giving the children of this community a safer, cleaner environment in which to play.”

The Super Bowl XLVII Host Committee sponsored the event along with numerous national, state and community organizations, including the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, the Hurricane KaTREEna project, Samaritan’s Feet and Greenlight New Orleans.

Participating students include: Hunter Brown, of Monroeville; Shabrika Clark, an online eTroy student from Stockbridge, Ga.; Kenneth Comer, of Birmingham; Kelley Curran, of Houston, Texas; Derek Daniel, of Troy; Stevon Douglas, an online eTroy student from Chantilly, Va.; LaTisha Hardy, an online eTroy student from Pensacola, Fla.; Garrett Parker, of Troy; Gail Pasco, of Elba; Mike Peinhardt, of Cullman; Amanda Shugarts, of Tuscaloosa; Johnny Thompson, of Valley; Mykel Travis, of Cantonment, Fla.; David Turner of Montgomery; Candice Vaughn, of Madison; Ashley Woods, of Orlando, Fla.; and Anton Zimanek, of Prattville.

Faculty advisors for the group were Martinez and Dr. John Miller, Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services.