SUFFOLK SCOOP suffolk university athletics official newsletter
Issue 1 • January 8, 2021
What’s Inside AD Honor Roll
02. Your Are In
224 Rams achieved AD Honor Roll status for the Fall 2020 Semester.
On Early Decision Day 2,156 students were notificed of their acceptance to Suffolk University.
06. Revisiting Rams
Suffolk Sights Take a walk through the hub of all things Suffolk Athletics: the Ridgeway Building.
Ram Nation revisited with Lauren Burns ’07, a frontline worker during the Covid–19 pandemic.
07. Season’s Givings Women’s hockey gave back to organizations throughout the holiday season.
2 • Suffolk Scoop
Make Your Way At Suffolk University, our mission is one of forward momentum. Suffolk shapes students who aim to be powerful agents of change in a swiftly changing world. We have a long history of innovation and adaptation to meet the challenges of the moment. Now more than ever, adaptability is crucial. We demand it of ourselves as an institution as much as we cultivate it in our students.
You Are In
Of these 2,156 newly admitted Rams, nearly 600 will be first– generation college students.
Our commitment to nurturing our students’ academic, professional, and personal journeys continues to be our focus. We remain true to the core components of the Suffolk experience that prepare our students for success — however they define it. We’ve reimagined our classrooms and connections to the wider world to provide the same valuable education we’ve offered for more than a century.
This is a population we welcome proudly, and one that embodies Suffolk’s core mission of making an excellent college education accessible to students from all walks of life.
Students here aspire to inspire. What they learn here isn’t just aligned with the current moment — it boldly points to a better future. And our supportive and
Get ready. You’re going to do amazing things here. On Early Decision Day, December 17, 2020, Suffolk University notified 2,156 students — from 47 states and 47 different countries around the world — that they have been accepted to Suffolk.
Our newly admitted students have shown academic prowess in your transcripts, a dedication to your community in your extracurriculars, and a thoughtful reflection of your life in your admission essays. We have no doubt that you will leave a positive impact on the Suffolk community, the city of Boston, and the world.
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welcoming community is there every step of the way to help them bring their potential to life. The Suffolk experience remains the purposeful combination of transformative opportunities our students collect along the way — opportunities that fuel their growth. These experiences are unique to our students and uniquely Suffolk. No two Suffolk stories are ever the same. Our students have never been about the status quo. They’re too busy changing perceptions, pushing for progress, and raising the bar. They are engaged in their education, active participants in building careers they’re passionate about, and a driving force for good. And nothing can change that. What comes next is ours for the making.
Suffolk Scoop • 3 In a semester unlike any other in the 70-plus-year history of the Suffolk University Athletic Department without competitions student–athletes took their competitive nature to the classroom as 224 Rams achieved AD Honor Roll status for the Fall 2020. “Once again our student–athletes stepped up to the challenges thrown at them,” Director of Athletics Cary McConnell said. “Not only were there new regulations and guidelines for COVID–19 at the University with classes, housing and the student– experience in general, but it changed the way we operate as an athletic department and ultimately those decisions led to no competition this fall. Fortunately, our student–athletes did not let these changes affect their academic excellence.” This fall, 292 student–athletes, who made up Suffolk’s 19 intercollegiate varsity teams, combined for a 3.34 department GPA with 77 percent (224) earning a 3.0 GPA or higher. When broken down, 48 percent (141) of Ram Nation etched their name on the Dean’s List with a 3.5 GPA or greater and 29 percent (86) earned a 3.75 GPA or greater.
224 Rams Named to AD Honor Roll for Fall 2020 To earn a spot on the AD Honor Roll, a student–athletes must earn a GPA of 3.0 and pass at least 12 quarter units.
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Fortunately our student–athletes did not let these changes affect their academic excellence.
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More impressive, 31 individuals achieved perfection with a 4.0 GPA, one person shy of the semester record of for unblemished GPAs of 32, which was set in the Spring of 2020. A dozen student–athletes with 4.0 GPA come from Suffolk’s cross country and track & field programs with nine of those individuals competing on two teams. For a full list of Suffolk’s 4.0 club, click here. Athletes participating for multiple programs shined academically as 82 percent (40) of the 49 two–sport athletes making the AD Honor Roll. In the team–to–team race women’s squads proved to be superior with the top five team GPAs belonging to women’s programs headlined by the women’s golf’s 3.756 GPA. From there it went women’s cross country (3.642), women’s track & field (3.561), volleyball (3.551) and women’s soccer (3.451). Men’s track & field topped the men’s teams with a 3.434 GPA.
#RamNation
4 • Suffolk Scoop
Suffolk Sights: Ridgeway Building The Ridgeway Building is the hub of all things Suffolk Athletics on campus.
Suffolk’s Ridgeway Building opened on February 5, 1991. It services the University’s intercollegiate programs — it is a centrally–located home for Ram Nation. The showpiece of the Ridgeway Building is the Michael & Larry Smith Fitness Center. The Smith Fitness Center opened its doors in August 2016 and has been the center for Suffolk’s active community. Four floors under the lobby, in the basement of the Ridgeway Building, features Suffolk’s Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court, home to the Rams’ men’s and women’s basketball teams and women’s volleyball squad.
Suffolk revamped its second–floor varsity strength and conditioning facility and made it a state–of–the–art weight room exclusively for varsity athletes in the summer of 2016. Over the summer of 2019, Ridgeway got a major face–lift highlighted by a new state–of–the–art athletic training facility. The renovation included update and additional locker room space, while Suffolk Athletic administration secured updated offices in the revamp of the Ridgeway Building in 2019 as well.
Smith Fitness Center The showpiece of the Ridgeway Building is the Michael & Larry Smith Fitness Center, named for alumni Michael S. Smith ’61 and Larry E. Smith ’65 in recognition of their leadership philantrhopy. Located on the first floor of the Ridgeway Building, the 5,800–square–foot space, you’ll find state–of–the–art
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treadmills, circuit training equipment, and elliptical trainers, as well as yoga mats, kettlebells, medicine balls, and on–demand fitness classes. Open to the entire Suffolk University community, the fitness center also offers four changing rooms, showers, and restrooms.
Suffolk Scoop • 5
Smith Court Built in 1991, formerly known as Ridgeway Gym, the Larry E. Smith & Michael S. Smith Court is the lone on–campus athletic facility for Suffolk University. Four floors under the lobby of the Ridgeway Building, Smith Court is the home to the Rams’ men’s and women’s basketball teams and the women’s volleyball squad. Located 30–feet below grown, Smith Court is a unique environment for a collegiate contest. The court’s up close and tight setting allows for fans and spectators to be right on top of the action. Spectators can view the action in the bleachers situation at court level or up above on the lower mezzanine level, which overlooks the court from the balcony.
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6 • Suffolk Scoop
Revisiting Rams: Women’s Basketball’s Lauren Burns’07 Former women’s basketball student–athlete Lauren Burns ’07 discusses what’s its like to be on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department at Carney Hospital in Dorchester. Here’s her story. I have been a registered nurse for nine years, the last six of which I have spent working in the emergency department. Nursing has always been rewarding in that it offers an opportunity to have a positive impact on a patient’s life, and in an emergency department it certainly offers a unique work experience every shift. But like many on the frontline of the COVID–19 pandemic I now find myself facing the most challenging period of my career. It’s hard to put into words the wave of emotions I now feel as I prepare for my next shift. Will it be an ok day? How many patients will need to be intubated? What if I am exposed and need to quarantine? Or even worse what if I unknowingly catch the virus and bring it home to my husband and two daughters? But as I begin to suit up with my protective gear those thoughts start to fade away and my focus is solely on providing the best care possible for those in need. In an emergency department providing the best possible care can only be accomplished with teamwork and I am truly blessed to be part of an amazing healthcare team. My co-workers are the reason I am able to get through each shift. During my time at Suffolk as a student–athlete Coach Leyden instilled upon us the importance of teamwork and with each shift that lesson is further emphasized. Since this pandemic began the dedicated line used by EMS rings back–to–back with each call notifying of an incoming patient most of which are COVID–19 patients. Some of these patients are only experiencing minor symptoms, but others are in critical condition. Due to the contagious nature of the virus visitors and family are not allowed to see their loved
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ones. Those isolated from the ones that care so much for them have us on the frontline to not only give them medical care, but also offer the emotional support in this time of isolation. I will not forget these faces and voices on the other line; we are family now and I pray for the best outcome for each patient. The love and support from the community has been amazing and is what gets us through each shift when we begin to feel exhausted by the emotional and physical toll this pandemic has taken. From supplies to food, even the smallest of gestures means the world to those working on the frontline. So, thank you! Please, stay home if you can. Be kind to all workers on the frontline, not just those at the hospital and stay safe!
Ram Nation thanks Lauren and all those on the frontline to help keep our community safe during this challenging time.
Rams Revisit Ram Nation Are you a Suffolk Athletics alum who would like to revisit with Ram Nation? Contact Sports Information Director Amy Barry at abarry7@suffolk.edu.
Suffolk Scoop • 7
Sophomore Julia McLellen Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.
Taylor Wasylk Women’s Hockey Head Coach
Season’s Givings
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It’s the holiday season and that meant giving back for Suffolk women’s hockey.
As a team we wanted to give back this holiday season given the hardships that so many are facing due to the pandemic.
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Taylor Wasylk Head Coach
Suffolk women’s hockey’s effort was apart of the #d3Donates campaign, which, at its core, is a voluntary, student–athlete driven initative, developing creative and effective ways to engage and connect with the community during the Covid–19 pandemic.
With the season of giving in full swing, the Rams turned their attention away from gift giving in the traditional sense and instead focused on a whole different kind of giving; giving back to the community. Charitable giving comes in many forms and all 20 student-athletes, head coach Taylor Wasylk and athletic trainer Erin Lanni of the women’s hockey squad used their platforms for good leading up to the holidays.
Each donation made had an impact on the communities the Rams aided. Half the team (10) donated to Toys for Tots, helping deliver millions of toys to children in need, which was doubled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while nine student-athletes gave items of need such as food, blankets, and clothing to shelters in their local communities. Meagan MacNeil, Natasha Savage and Halle Usseglio, meanwhile, shipped their kindness overseas with packages to U.S. troops.
Senior Halle Usseglio Wethersfeld, Conn.
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Next Issue 01. Winter Sports Update Will Suffolk’s winter team’s compete in 2021? The CCC President’s Council makes its ruling in January 2021.
02. Suffolk Sights A look inside Suffolk’s Varsity Weight Room; an exclusive weight–training facility for student–athletes.
03. Coaches Corner Get to know one of Suffolk’s leaders men’s basketball head coach Jeff Juron.
Men’s Soccer Junior Trevor Murdock Pembroke, Mass.
Mask up for Suffolk CARES Purchase $10 Suffolk themed masks to support the Suffolk CARES program
Rams Round–Up Stay Connected You have the a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student–athletes and teams by following the Rams on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Support Ram Nation Help give Suffolk Athletcs a competitve edge. Donate now by texting “SURAMS” to 71–777.
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Suffolk University is asking members of Ram Nation to come together to help raise funds for students most in need by purchasing a reusable Suffolk branded face mask for $10. Net proceeds will support the Suffolk CARES program. The 3–ply face mask cover comes in four different designs — University, Suffolk Law, Rams, Logo Repeating. The non– medical grade masks are heavyweight, 100 percent polyester, washable and reusable. The Suffolk CARES program provides emergency assistance
grants to undergraduate, graduate and law students experience unexpected financial hardship. Individuals may choose to support the Suffolk CARES Pantry, the Suffolk CARES Student Emergency Assistance Fund for CAS and SBS students or the Suffolk Law Student Emergency Fund. Masks can be purchased at bit.ly/MasksSuffolkcares
Questions? Please contact Christopher Flad at cflad@suffolk.edu