Greensboro College - Sandifer '09 Gives Back Through Service

Did You Know...

2010 Women's Lacrosse

The 2010 Greensboro College women’s lacrosse team won 14 games, the most in program history.

Nelsen Led Kiwis

Former Pride men's soccer student-athlete Ryan Nelsen served as captain for his native New Zealand in the 2010 World Cup. He and the "All Whites" went undefeated with a 0-0-3 record.

2010 Softball

The 2010 Greensboro College Pride softball team posted 28 wins, had a 17-game winning streak, won the USA South tournament and qualified for the program's first NCAA tournament.

Cooke Made NCAAs

Alex Cooke is the only Pride swimmer to reach the NCAA championships. She did not disappoint as she earned All America Honors in the 100 backstroke at the 2009 championships in Minneapolis, Minn.

Theriault the Runner

In his first year of intercollegiate cross country, Francois Theriault finished second at the 2006 USA South Cross Country championships, the highest placing in the history of the program. He later earned all-region honors, a first for a GC harrier.

Pride Sweeps Scalf

GC is the only USA South institution to sweep the prestigious Don Scalf award. GC's Carrie Pacifico (women's tennis) and Daniel Poindexter (baseball) earned the conference's highest honor in 2007-08. Two years later, Andrew Clark (men's soccer) and Michelle Lemmons (women's tennis) did it again for The Pride.

Sutton Successful

Greensboro College's David Sutton posted a program-best 12-0 record at #1 tennis singles in 2007. The next year, he became GC's first ever alternate to the NCAA tournament.

Pride Women Excelled

In the first year of presenting separate All-Sports trophies, the Greensboro College women won the 2004-05 USA South President’s Cup.

Student-Athlete Academic Success

From 2003 to 2007, Greensboro College athletes led the USA South Conference with the most student-athletes achieving academic team honors.

Pacifico was a Smash

Carrie Pacifico was named the USA South women's tennis player of the year in 2006, '07 and '08. She did not lose a conference match during those three years.

Women's Hoops Set Record

The 2008-09 Pride women's basketball team had the best statistical mark of any GC hoops team. GC finished 27-3 and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Eccles Set USAS Record

Dione Eccles scored a USA South record (both for men and women) 54 points in Greensboro College women's basketball 's conference tournament semifinal win. The Pride defeated the Panthers, 117-113 in double overtime, on Feb., 29, 2008.

GC Golf

The Pride men's golf team qualified for its 32nd NCAA Division III championship in 2010.

National Title Games

Greensboro College men's soccer reached the NCAA Division III championship game in both 1989 and 1998.

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Sandifer '09 Gives Back Through Service

Mary Sandifer and one of her sixth grade students

Pride Sports Info.

12/21/2009 10:28:22 AM

Recent Greensboro College graduate Mary Sandifer ’09 wanted to make a difference. Unlike most grads, she wanted to do one year of service before getting job.

“I did some research and found City Year, which is a non-profit/Americorps program that works with inner city children on achieving academic success,” said the former Pride soccer and lacrosse student-athlete.

Sandifer, a Washington, D.C. native, relocated to North Philadelphia. She works with a 6th grade class, primarily with students that show indicators they won’t either make it to high school, or won't earn a high school degree. Many of the kids are truant in attendance, exhibit bad behavior, and perform below their grade level.

See the EdWeek video about Sandifer and her program:

Naggers and Nurturers from Education Week on Vimeo.

“I have a focus list, but I work with all the students,” Sandifer said. “This is a pilot program for City Year called ‘Diplomas.’ If the pilot program is successful, it could go nationwide. I am also service coordinator at our after school program that teaches kids about the importance of community service.”

At City Year, I have gained skills that I would never have gained," she added. "The program has given me experience in co-Teaching workshops, marketing workshops and interacting with stakeholders in the community. I also work with a diverse group of people."

The City Year program allows mentors like Sandifer to make and impact on young people's lives.

"I worked with a student that has been suspended through out the school year and was marked as a student that 'cannot be helped.' Yet since I started to work with him he has not been suspended in more than a month, is now attending our after school program to get help with homework and is improving his social interaction. He has raised his math grade reading and literatures grade from an F to a C, which is awesome and truly rewarding! "

What does Sandifer have planned for the future?

"I might work with after City Year another year or doing another Americorps program, such as NCCC, or pursuing a career in non-profit or special education." Sandifer said. "I am also applying to Teach For America."

Nevertheless, the GC graduate highly recommends service after graduation.

"Internships that GC career services provided made me realize that I wanted to pursue this path." said Sandifer. "I think students at Greensboro College would be very interested and would greatly benefit from this program."

For more information, or to apply to City Year, visit their web site: www.cityyear.org

Read the full EdWeek Story www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/12/16/15dropout_ep.h29.html .

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