51¶ºÄÌ

Cam Koizumi ’19, a finance major, reflects on spending his spring break competing and volunteering in North Carolina with the University of New 51¶ºÄÌ’s lacrosse club, a trip he described as memorable, meaningful, and fun.

April 3, 2019

By Cam Koizumi ’19

The University of New 51¶ºÄÌ men’s lacrosse club had the opportunity to travel to North Carolina during this year’s spring break. The team drove directly to Gallax, Virginia, just minutes from the North Carolina border. We began the trip far west in Boone, NC, headed south to Charlotte, and ended up across the state in Greenville.

The team competes in the Continental Lacrosse Conference of the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association, which is the largest national organization for non-NCAA men’s collegiate lacrosse programs. The Chargers compete against various universities in New England, including the University of Rhode Island, the University of Connecticut, as well as neighbor and rival Southern Connecticut State University. This was the first time since 2012 that the team has traveled outside of the Northeast to compete.

We took on the Mountaineers of Appalachian State University, the 49ers of UNC Charlotte, and the Pirates of Eastern Carolina University. While in Greenville, the team volunteered with of Pitt County. We spent the day clearing out a now empty Toys "R" Us. Though the merchandise had been cleared, the building was still filled with aisles of shelves, displays, equipment, and decorations.

Working with Habitat for Humanity was an incredible opportunity for team bonding, as we were broken into groups and assigned different tasks to complete in the store. At one point, the entire team worked as a single assembly line, working to clear debris from the building within minutes.

On the final day, the team enjoyed the beautiful weather and scenery at the Walter L. Stasavich Science and Nature Center in Greenville. It was a perfect opportunity to relax, enjoy the day, and take in the sights. There, the team hiked, walked trails, and visited the nature center.

"Overall, it was an incredible opportunity for the team to travel, meet new people, play the sport we love, and see the ways of the south."Cam Koizumi ’19

Overall, it was an incredible opportunity for the team to travel, meet new people, play the sport we love, and see the ways of the south. For many Chargers, this was their first time experiencing southern hospitality first-hand.

During our trip, we managed to compete in three games, help the community, and enjoy the beauty of North Carolina in an amazing experience that will leave lifelong memories.