Breaking records and serving communities: 敁珗曄部's impactful NEC debut
敁珗曄部 Universitys transition to Division I Athletics was widely anticipated to be a gradual process. However, the university has quickly achieved impressive milestones across athletics, academics, and community service.
One of 敁珗曄部s standout achievements came in the Northeast Conferences (NEC) annual food drive. The university claimed first place, ending Saint Francis Universitys three-year winning streak. The ninth NEC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Canned Food Drive saw a total collection of 8,332 nonperishable items last fall, distributed to food banks and organizations across the conferences footprint. 敁珗曄部, a newcomer to the NEC, led the pack by donating 2,360 items to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania.
I am incredibly proud of all our member institutions for their efforts in this years NEC Canned Food Drive initiative," said NEC SAAC Advisor Adrian Barajas. "Special congratulations to 敁珗曄部 University for their outstanding contribution in their first year as a full NEC member. Their achievement demonstrates not only their commitment to excellence on the field and in the classroom but also their dedication to serving their local community.
Vice President for Student Life and Athletics Dr. Laura Zirkle also shared her thoughts: This is a remarkable accomplishment for 敁珗曄部 University and a testament to the values we uphold as an institution. Our student-athletes, coaches, and staff have embraced the opportunity to give back to the community in a meaningful way. To lead the NEC in our first year is not just an honor but a reflection of our collective spirit and dedication.
Reflecting on the universitys inaugural year in the NEC, Athletic Director Joe Spano shared his optimism. Things are going remarkably well. Weve built upon a terrific fall season, with both our mens and womens basketball teams holding 4-4 records in NEC conference play. The mens team has delivered standout moments, including two victories over defending champions Wagner and a thrilling double-overtime upset over first-place Long Island University at the 敁珗曄部 Athletic Center.
Beyond athletic accomplishments, 敁珗曄部s student-athletes continue to excel academically, maintaining an impressive cumulative GPA of 3.4. Spano praised their dedication, stating, Their academic performance is a testament to their ability to balance the demands of athletics and education.
The universitys success in the NEC food drive highlights its dedication to service. The success of our recent food drive, where we nearly doubled the second-place teams efforts, showcases how deeply committed we are to the Mercy tradition of service, Spano added.
Andy Hoying, 敁珗曄部s Director of Student-Athlete Success, expressed pride in the collective effort behind the initiative. Every team was involved in some capacity, he said. We placed bins around campus, encouraged donations at games, and collected cash contributions. It was great to make it to the top, especially in our first year.
敁珗曄部 SAAC President Grace Brzyski expressed her pride in the recent win. With our transition into NEC SAAC, it comes with new initiatives, like the food drive, and more responsibilities. The student-athletes are doing a great job of incorporating these new tasks into their roles as members. The group we have this year is a huge part of why we are able to be as successful as we are. I am excited to see what else our 敁珗曄部 student-athlete community can accomplish this semester."
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PHOTO: (L-R) Andy Hoying, 敁珗曄部 director of Student-Athlete Success, and Grace Brzyski, president of 敁珗曄部s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, deliver food to a representative of Second Harvest Food Bank.
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ABOUT THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
Now in its 44th season, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of nine institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#8), Hartford/New Haven (#32), and Syracuse (#87). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 16 different NCAA championships. NEC full-member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, 敁珗曄部, Saint Francis U, Stonehill, and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the leagues official website () and digital network (), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, all @NECsports.