Feb. 16, 2012

EASTON, Pa. - Several members of the Lafayette field hockey team recently participated in a charity dodgeball tournament to aid the efforts of the Bronx Prep Academy in New York.

The Bronx Prep Academy is a charter school that offers promising students in one of the most underprivileged areas in the country the opportunity to build a better future. With little to no government aid and no opportunity to charge tuition, the program relies on donations and fundraising events to be able to succeed.

Emily Valeo, Aimee Smith, Haley Keenan, Kelsey Gula and Jessica Deutsch were part of the top-seeded team going into the semi-finals of the tournament, but unfortunately couldn’t come away with the victory.

“It was a wonderful day to have fun and play a little dodgeball,” Gula said. “For a few teams, though, the day turned into a replica of the movie Dodgeball minus the attendance of Peter La Fleur, whom they really could’ve used.”

The real prize was awarded off the court, though, as Gula’s sister Kara, who has been working with the school to help fundraising initiatives and college prep, achieved the highest donation number of anyone in the tournament.

“We really enjoyed the experience and cannot wait to participate again next year,” Kelsey said. “Hopefully we can get interest from other Lafayette teams in the future.”