Camouflage for a cause

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Lauren Rock

From left, hockey players Hannah Epstein, Morgan Scoyne, Megan Kobar, Lindsay Grigg and Jamie Parhar wore camouflage during their home games against Buffalo State College.

Both the RIT men’s basketball and women’s hockey teams paid tribute to the United States military during Armed Forces weekend Jan. 20-21.

The men’s basketball team wore special shirts with the names of local soldiers who lost their lives while serving their country. The women’s hockey team wore camouflage jerseys that were later auctioned, with all proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Project.

“I feel that is important for our student-athletes to appreciate what our Armed Forces have ultimately sacrificed for our freedom and what the military does for us,” says Bob McVean, now in his 29th season as the head men’s basketball coach at RIT.

The Tigers donated the shirts to the families of the deceased veterans and donated a monetary gift to the Veterans Outreach Center. The 23 game-worn women’s hockey jerseys fetched $8,609. Junior Kristina Moss had the highest selling jersey at $3,000. Freshman Julie Hall’s jersey sold for $350. Every jersey sold for at least $215. In addition, the Tigers sold 350 T-shirts. Overall, $11,067 was raised.

“We wanted to do something (for our fundraiser) that really stood out in a national way,” says head coach Scott McDonald, RIT’s all-time leader in women’s hockey wins. “We support our military and are grateful for how much they sacrifice for our freedom.”