Regardless of the season, the Lebanon Valley College men's lacrosse team seeks opportunities to give back. The program recognizes that it has a platform to make a difference in the community and makes a strong effort to help others through volunteerism during the year.
Annual service projects have become a tradition for the Dutchmen, including serving as Salvation Army bell ringers outside the Walmart in Palmyra each holiday season. The team stands in front of the store to ring the bell while often singing Christmas carols to patrons.
This approach resulted in significant donations to the Salvation Army and earned the team recognition. The Dutchmen received an award for being a top bell-ringing group in the "Battle of the Bells" the last two years.
"I think the best part about any service project is connecting to Annville and surrounding communities," graduate student midfielder and co-captain Alex Kiviniemi said. "I gained an appreciation for our campus and local areas through these projects."
Lebanon Valley also participates in the Adopt-A-Highway program at the start of the fall semester, helping clean local roadsides. Senior attacker and co-captain Jake Bollinger said that while the players enjoy working on these projects, they are proudest of helping make a difference in the area.
"It brings the team together to complete a common goal that benefits others," Bollinger said. "Completing service projects is also important because it includes us in the community in a positive way."
This spring, the program partnered with Team IMPACT, which matches children facing illness and disability with college sports teams. The squad welcomed Jake Petrone, a 10-year-old fourth-grader at Pine Street Elementary School, as an honorary teammate. Petrone attended LVC's home games and practices, cheering for the Dutchmen on the sidelines at Henry and Gladys Arnold Field while also traveling to support the team on the road at matchups against DeSales University and Stevens Institute of Technology.
"This year's highlight was partnering with Team IMPACT and welcoming our new teammate, Jake," Kiviniemi said. "He has been a huge part of our program and helped motivate us to win some big games this year."
Petrone will return to the Dutchmen next spring and even enjoy some off-season time with the players.
"Our team gives Jake a place to feel included and watch sports with a bunch of guys," Bollinger said. "He always counts down when we're huddled at the end of practice or games, and we yell 'Valley!' We can see how much he loves doing it and how happy it makes him."
Head coach John Haus said service is important to the men's lacrosse team.
"We look to help others in any way we can by participating in multiple service projects each year in the surrounding area," said Haus. "We strive to prepare our student-athletes for life after graduation and believe this work teaches them lessons they will use well beyond their time on campus. We are proud to do our part and positively impact the community."
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