Lakeland College

Muskies finish second in NAC Cans Across the Conference competition

Athletics - posted on 12/4/2012

Lakeland College set a school record for items collected and has finished second in the Northern Athletics Conference Cans Across the Conference community service competition for the second year in a row.

Led by the Lakeland Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Lakeland this year collected a total of 7,739 items. The total breaks the previous Muskie record, more than doubling the total of 3,703 set just last year.

Lakeland finished second to Alverno College for the second year in a row. Alverno set a new NAC record with 25,284 items collected, nearly doubling its record total of 13,477 set last year.

The canned food drive is a competition among the Student-Athlete Advisory Committees of NAC member schools, with each school collecting canned food items to donate to local charity. Lakeland's chosen charity this year was the Salvation Army of Greater Sheboygan, and the Lakeland SAAC dropped off nearly 4,200 non-perishable items to the Salvation Army and also sent a check for $800 to the Salvation Army as well.

"We were absolutely thrilled, it was a wonderful gift," said Jane Marotz, a case worker with the Salvation Army in Sheboygan. "In October we were very empty, and at times like that we get very concerned about donations. This helped replenish our pantry, it was overwhelming in a wonderful way, a huge donation."

"I'm so proud of how well we did this year," said Lakeland Head Women's Basketball Coach Lindsey Vande Hoef, who also is the advisor for the Lakeland SAAC. "We doubled our total from last year thanks to all who chipped in. It was our goal to win the contest, of course, but it is such an amazing feeling to be able to help all those local hungry families.

"When we dropped off our donation at the Salvation Army and saw how excited those volunteers were, it can help you realize that our Muskies really made a strong impact and a difference for so many people."

This is the seventh year the NAC has sponsored the competition. The winning school receives a traveling trophy to display until next year's competition. Conference member schools collected a total of 44,875 items. For more information on the program and a complete list of the final standings please visit the NAC link about the program here.