NEW HAVEN, Conn. – After a spirited competition among all intercollegiate programs at Southern Connecticut State University, the baseball team has been recognized as the winner of the Tim Greer Insurance Agency, Inc. Community Service Cup for the 2011-12 academic year. In addition, senior Alex Fiola (Fall River, Mass.) of the women's basketball team has been named the recipient of this year's individual Community Service Cup award.

The Tim Greer Insurance Agency, Inc. Community Service Cup provides a competitive format that allows student-athletes to gain an enriched experience through engagement with the on-campus and local communities by supporting ventures of traditional citizens, campus community members and peer students and student-athletes.

“I would like to congratulate the baseball team for claiming this year's Tim Greer Insurance Agency, Inc. Community Service Cup team award and Alex for capturing our individual Community Service Award,” Director of Athletics Patricia D. Nicol said. “These individuals have made community service a priority through their assistance at numerous events throughout the course of the year.

“In addition, I would like to thank all of our programs for serving as outstanding ambassadors for Southern Connecticut State University through extensive community service efforts. As a group, our student-athletes have volunteered approximately 3,000 hours of their time to community service causes this past year. I commend all of our coaches and student-athletes for their efforts.”

The baseball program assisted with numerous programs, both on-campus and in Greater New Haven, during the 2011-12 academic year. The team was extremely active with area youth, as evidenced by academic work at the Beecher School in New Haven and the Helen Street School in Hamden. The team also assisted at events for youngsters at the Ulbrich Boys and Girls Club in Wallingford and the Keefe Community Center in Hamden. Student-athletes and coaches also volunteered their time at St. Ann's Soup Kitchen in Hamden and, during their appearance at the College World Series in Cary, N.C., took time to visit with and assist with projects at an elderly residence.

Fiola took time out to volunteer for an array of outreach efforts to earn recognition. She participated in weekly reading and tutoring programs at the Beecher and Clinton Avenue Schools in New Haven. She has also assisted with on-campus events such as Girls and Women in Sport Day and Southern Day of Service. Fiola also and her teammates also volunteered at the New Haven Labor Day Road Race. During her career, Fiola has also assisted at the Clemente School in New Haven, the campus-wide Friends of Rudolph event, the Big Event and the annual 'Be The Match' National Bone Marrow Registry drive.

The team champion was determined through a scoring system that awards points based on the percentage of each team's roster that participates in an event. Student-athletes can earn points by a variety of means, including: participation in community service events (on or off campus), host pre- or post-game clinics and participation in campus events. The individual winner was selected through event participation throughout the course of the academic year.