Jamiyah Bethune, Emma O'Connor & Ryan Oliver Named 2016-17 MAAC Victory Scholars
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ –. Former women’s basketball players, Jamiyah Bethune from Monmouth University, Emma O’Connor from Marist College and former men’s basketball player Ryan Oliver from Siena College will represent the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) as Victory Scholars for the upcoming 2016-17 academic year.
The announcement of the 23 Victory Scholars was made last night during an event held at Nike Headquarters based in New York City. The athletic directors from these three institutions are excited to see their former student-athletes continue their academic and athletic careers in Ireland.
Monmouth University Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Marilyn McNeil said “I am very proud of Jamiyah for taking the initiative to apply to this program! It will be a game-changing experience for her and I do hope the road she takes will positively influence others from Monmouth to follow in her footsteps!”
“I'm excited for Emma as she is a terrific ambassador for Marist College. We're happy to see that she will not only have the opportunity to further her education but to also make an impact on the youth in her community in Ireland,” said Tim Murray, Marist College Director of Athletics.
Vice President and Director of Athletics of Siena College John D'Argenio added “We are excited that Ryan has the opportunity to continue his education and playing career, but more pleased that he has the opportunity to help young people who may be at risk; which is an important aspect of Siena's Franciscan values. During his four years at Siena he displayed leadership and commitment to his team and the College. I know that he has many great talents to share, and will do so in a positive way.”
Below is the release from the Sports Changes Life Foundation from last night’s event.
Sport Changes Life launched their Victory Scholar Program with The Rory Foundation at Nike Headquarters Office in New York City this evening. Four-time major golf champion Rory McIlroy and founder of The Rory Foundation, hosted the event attended by Victory Scholars, their families and invited guests. As the new Ambassador, Rory McIlroy welcomed the partnership between Sport Changes Life and the Rory Foundation.
Speaking at Nike HQ this evening, McIlroy said; “My Foundation and Sport Changes Life share so many ideals and objectives that giving support to their programme was an obvious choice for me. The Victory Scholar students are driven young athletes hoping to further develop their skills at Irish universities while assisting local community outreach initiatives. Not every young person has the opportunities and advantages I had growing up, so I really hope these ambitious students will make a difference to many young lives and be a force for positive change in communities most in need.”
The 23 Victory Scholars will embark on a life changing year of mentoring young people through sport in the communities of Northern Ireland and Ireland while studying for a Masters Degree in a number of prestigious universities while continuing to play the sport they love. These NCAA student-athletes have completed a rigorous selection process ensuring they embody the values of the Victory Program, first designed by Co-Founder Professor Deirdre Brennan (Ulster University). In 2016 Sport Changes Life, in partnership with founding partner Ulster University and Chaka Travel, its Irish university partners, corporate partners and the Rory Foundation will provide the equivalent of circa 2.3 million dollars of education to 23 Victory Scholars at nine prestigious universities across the Island of Ireland with 6 Victory Scholars based, not far from Rory’s home, with our founding partner the Ulster University, Northern Ireland.
This event marks the beginning of the Scholars’ journey across the Atlantic to help change the lives of young people and enable them to develop a global perspective and build life-long friendships with people and communities throughout Ireland.
Gareth Maguire, CEO of Sport Changes Life, says of the partnership,
“We are very excited to welcome this group of Victory Scholars into the Sport Changes Life family. We are extremely thankful for our partnership with Rory McIlroy and his charitable foundation, the Rory Foundation. Having the encouragement of a globally admired role model like Rory, has fundamentally benefited our ambitions for the Sport Changes Life Victory Program. Since 2007 we have changed the lives of 53 Victory scholars providing circa 5.3 million dollars’ worth of education to U.S student/athletes who in return have coached, mentored and helped over 191,820 young people across the Island of Ireland. Since announcing our partnership with the Rory Foundation we have increased the awareness, understanding and recognition of the extremely important work these Victory Scholars are doing, working to raise the aspirations of young people in Northern Ireland and Ireland by almost doubling in one year our intake of Victory Scholars to our program. Rory is an incredible role model with special parents who have sacrificed so much to allow Rory to achieve. It is our mission to help and support young people who just don’t have that support and help them achieve. That is the role of the Victory Scholar, to become a coach, a mentor and a friend to our young people and to build these important relationships.”
With this partnership, Sport Changes Life has expanded its Victory Scholars program to include two golf scholars based with founding partner Ulster University. Ulster University will also be home to four basketball scholars along with 17 Victory Scholars based in NUI Galway, Trinity College Dublin, Carlow IT, Waterford IT, Limerick IT, Cork IT, NUI Maynooth, Dublin City University and Letterkenny IT.