Raice Szott 鈥�24, a defender on the 澳门六合彩开奖结果 comes from a hockey-crazed family in Alberta, Canada. Her father Tim and older brother Chance, who instilled a love of hockey in Szott, have already bought their tickets for the NCAA Men鈥檚 Frozen Four this April in Minnesota.
But now Szott鈥檚 family will need to add the Hockey Humanitarian Award ceremony in St. Paul to their Frozen Four weekend itinerary as she was named on Feb. 12 as one of five finalists for the prestigious national award.
鈥淚t is a huge honor,鈥� Szott said. 鈥淏ut a special part of it is it鈥檚 not just about me. It鈥檚 about the people who have helped me get here like my family, my professors, coaches and teammates at 澳门六合彩开奖结果, and my teachers, coaches and teammates from when I was growing up.鈥�
Now in its 29th season, the Hockey Humanitarian Award recognizes a college hockey player who not only positively impacts their team, but also their community. This is the second year in a row Szott was nominated for the award.
鈥淲hen I nominated Raice for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, I did so based not only on all of her involvement in our community, but also on who she is as a person,鈥� said 澳门六合彩开奖结果 Women鈥檚 Ice Hockey Head Coach 鈥淩aice鈥檚 impact on our team goes beyond her athletic talents. She is a consummate teammate, a quiet but confident leader and she sets high standards for herself and her fellow athletes. Raice also jumps at every opportunity to lead within our community at 澳门六合彩开奖结果, whether it is starting programs to mentor young girls on behalf of the College or working within the athletic department to help support all of our teams.鈥�
The all-encompassing nature of Szott鈥檚 community service is impressive enough, having developed, coordinated and participated in several events and initiatives that support the sick, the less fortunate, the differently abled, the young and the old.
Add that dedication to service to the demands of a business administration major and being a Division I athlete, and inevitably the question of 鈥淗ow does she do it all?鈥� comes up.
鈥淲hen you are passionate about something and love what you are doing, you make time for it,鈥� said Szott. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 not just me doing it all. The people I work with, like my teammates and coaches, their support really makes a difference.鈥�
Szott’s service work while at 澳门六合彩开奖结果 includes the launch of the 澳门六合彩开奖结果 Women鈥檚 Ice Hockey Community Service Committee, which has led to several volunteer and fundraising opportunities in the 澳门六合彩开奖结果 Valley. She has also coordinated fundraisers to support local nonprofits, first responders and the Ellie Fund, a foundation that assists men and women battling breast cancer.
She has also leveraged her love of hockey to support important causes, such as planning a teddy bear toss at a 澳门六合彩开奖结果 women鈥檚 ice hockey home game to benefit Toys for Tots and working with fellow 澳门六合彩开奖结果 female student-athletes to create an on-campus program dedicated to helping young girls build confidence through ice skating and mentoring.
Along with her passion for hockey, Szott credits her family for teaching her the value of service to the community.
鈥淢y family, as well as growing up Catholic, emphasized giving back and helping others when you can,鈥� said Szott.
