MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/23/15)— Concordia junior Max Smith was named as one of the 15 candidates for the prestigious BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award. Smith is one of five NCAA Division III candidates in a field that includes men’s and women’s players from Division I and III schools.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Hockey Humanitarian Award is presented annually to college hockey’s finest citizen – a student-athlete who makes significant contributions not only to his or her team but also to the community-at-large through leadership in volunteerism.
Smith is the founder and director of InSports Foundation which offers camps and scholarships for deserving kids to help defray the costs of participating in youth sports. The InSports foundation’s goal is to help 10,000 kids in three years.
The idea of the foundation started three years ago and the InSports officially became a non-profit organization in 2014.
Last year the foundation raised over $10,000 for other teams and individuals through apparel fundraisers. In all the foundation has raised over $30,000 through other fundraising events and apparel sales.
Smith said the goal pf the foundation is to, “use this money to give kids scholarships to attend camps and help pay for their registration fees during their seasons.”
Last summer the InSports foundation put on its own free hockey camp for 35 kids in Fargo, N.D. Nine of the participants were from the inner city of Minneapolis and received a complete travel, lodging and food scholarship for the week. In addition, the foundation gave away over $1,500 worth of equipment scholarships to three players who were selected for their on-ice demeanor and willingness to make others better.
Finalists will be announced in February. The 2015 recipient will be recognized in a ceremony on Friday, April 10th as part of the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in Boston.
2015 BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award – Candidates
Brittany Ammerman Sr. F Wisconsin
Tyler Brickler Sr. F Geneseo
Kelsie Fralick Sr. G Connecticut College
Sebastien Gingras Jr. D Union
Jake Heisinger So. F Curry
Zoe Hickel Sr. F Minnesota-Duluth
Zach Hyman Sr. F Michigan
Eric Johnson Sr. D Notre Dame
Adam Krause Sr. F Minnesota-Duluth
Mark MacMillan Sr. F North Dakota
Jamie Murray Jr. G Babson
Joel Rumpel Sr. G Wisconsin
Katelyn Scott Sr. F Robert Morris
Max Smith Jr. D Concordia (Minn.)
Kayla Sullivan Sr. F Ohio State
Article provided by Jim Cella at http://concordiamn.prestosports.com/sports/mice/2014-15/releases/20150123xa8g08