April 18, 2013
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Andy Seeley
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) -- The clock is quickly ticking down to May 5, when a group of roughly 20 UCF student-athletes and administrators will travel to Panama for Knights Without Borders. The international service-learning trip will include 11 Knight student-athletes, who are very much looking forward to the opportunity to help make a difference in young people's lives.
The group, led by UCF Senior Associate AD Jessica Reo and Associate AD Kimya Massey, will spend five days at Aldeas Infantiles SOS Columbus, located in Colon, Panama. The Aldeas program builds families for children in need, according to the organization's literature. The Aldeas program houses and cares for children who are at risk because their basic needs are neglected, they may have been abused, lost their parents, have never known them or have been removed from the home because their parents do not have the resources or skills to properly care for them.
The Knights Without Borders group will have a busy five days when they arrive in Panama. They will be clearing a construction site by hand, constructing a recreational court, complete with a concrete slab, ceiling, lights, fencing and a locker area for both boys and girls. The UCF group will be helping to implement a wellness program, consisting of calisthenics and nutrition education, in addition to their construction project.
The chance to reach out and help people is amazing, said Tory McCutcheon, who finished her volleyball career at UCF this past fall. Everyone's getting very excited. It's getting down to the wire now and there's a lot to do. We're all just really excited to be able to work with kids and share our love of sport.
McCutcheon will be joined on the trip by volleball teammate Kaye-Alese Green, softball's Allie Jest, football's Victor Gray, men's soccer's Kyle Cox and Sebastian Evers, women's soccer's Lianne Maldonado, men's golf's Hojin Kang, women's basketball's Gevenia Carter and women's tennis players Courtney Griffith and Jenna Doerfler.
| Jenna Doerfler is heading to Panama in May to take part in Knights Without Borders |
I am extremely excited and grateful for this opportunity, Doerfler said. I have never had the opportunity to go on a trip like this and make such a difference in other people's lives, so I am very eager and excited to be partaking in this journey. I know it will be a life-changing week for me and something that will impact me for the rest of my life. There is nothing better than having a positive influence in other people's lives.
The group has spent the last few months learning about the history and culture of Panama, trying to pick up some Spanish and learning about the projects they will be undertaking. They have also been raising funds for the trip. Each student-athlete was responsible for financing their own trip.
That's definitely a commitment, McCutcheon said of the fund-raising aspect. It's also a life lesson. You have to ask somebody for money and really reach out, so we can do something that is going to mean so much.
This is the first of what will hopefully be many similar trips, as the plan is for Knights Without Borders to expand to two trips per year in the future. Both Doerfler and McCutcheon said they were honored to be part of the first Knights Without Borders project.
I am extremely blessed to be a part of UCF's first trip and cannot wait to embark on this journey, Doerfler said.
For more information or to inquire about supporting the Knights Without Borders program, contact Reo at 407.823.1352 or send an email to KnightsWOB@athletics.ucf.edu.