June 11, 2013
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Senior Mario Samson of the UCF men's tennis team was recognized for his community outreach Tuesday with a Conference USA Spring Spirit of Service of Award. The C-USA Spirit of Service Award is designed to recognize the community service efforts of the league's student-athletes, based upon significant community service, good academic standing and participation in their elected sport.
The co-chair of the UCF SAAC Community Service committee, Samson participated in the inaugural Knights Without Borders trip, going to Panama to help repair an orphanage, and organized UCF Athletics' Gingerbread House of Hope program during the holiday season, which provided donated toys to Pinecrest Elementary. Samson also volunteered at Relay for Life, Miracle League and participated in the UCF Athletics pen pal program, writing to students at Jackson Heights Middle School once a month about topics including motivation, importance of staying in school, peer pressure and health and nutrition.
He received the UCF PRIDE Award for work with UCF SAAC. A civil engineering major from Miami, Samson was named to 2012-13 Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and plans to attend graduate school at UCF.
"This is a wonderful, well-deserved honor for Mario," UCF head coach Bobby Cashman said. "He has always been focused on giving back and is a great example for other student-athletes to follow."
Samson served as the Knights' team captain this past season. He posted a 4-3 mark in singles play during the spring.
The Spirit of Service award is presented three times throughout the season, and 12 student-athletes were recognized in the spring.