The ECAC Internship and Mentoring Initiative: Connecting Student-Athletes with Children at Youth Organizations through Recreational Activities

Cape Cod, Mass. - The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Associate Commissioner for Internal Affairs/Senior Woman Administrator Dea Shipps is pleased to announce the implementation of the ECAC Internship and Mentoring Initiative. The ECAC Internship and Mentoring Initiative is a pilot program dedicated to connecting ECAC member student-athletes with youth organizations that provide recreational opportunities to underserved children in Washington D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland. Student-athletes are able to choose from a wide variety of internship and mentoring opportunities while enhancing the diversity programming and educational outreach of member institutions.

The reception of the initiative among youth organizations in Washington D.C. and Baltimore has been tremendous. These organizations offer children an opportunity to participate in a wide range of sports including soccer, lacrosse, and rowing, often free of charge. The ECAC has effectively facilitated the relationship between student-athletes and youth organizations to develop opportunities that are tailored to match the level of commitment that student-athletes are able to provide within the framework of each organization’s unique program design and mission statement.

The ECAC has initiated a partnership between two student-athletes from the George Washington men’s rowing team, Dominic Abruzzee and Karel Bryukhanov, and the Capital Rowing Club (CRC). CRC is a non-profit organization that provides the community of Anacostia River and the greater Washington D.C. area with an opportunity to row under the leadership of President Kelley O’Connell.

O’Connell expressed her eagerness to participate in the initiative: “CRC is excited the club was offered the opportunity to partake in the inaugural ECAC Internship and Mentoring Initiative.” She noted the integral role the student-athletes will serve as coaches of the youth Learn to Row summer camps. In addition to coaching youth rowers, O’Connell shared that “Karel and Dominic will also have the opportunity to coach the adaptive rowing program at CRC. This is a program designed to provide rowing opportunities to wounded military veterans… as part of their physically therapy.” The internship will provide a tremendous experience for the student-athletes while making an outstanding contribution to the greater community of Washington D.C.

The ECAC is committed to expanding the initiative by enhancing the participation of student-athletes among all member institutions in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore area. The ECAC also plans to offer additional mentoring and internship opportunities at youth organizations throughout the Northeast in the future. If you are interested in partaking in the initiative or have any questions please contact Mary Conway at 508-771-5060 ext. 235 or mconway@ecac.org.