ROCK HILL, SC--Winthrop student-athletes completed nearly 3, 200 hours in communtity service projects during the 2011-12 academic year continuing a commitment of involvement by the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) 

One of the special efforts was a year-long project conducted by the Winthrop SAAC in cooperation with the York County Boys and Girls Club that culminated with Eagle Week during the local school districts' spring break.
 
During Eagle Week, SAAC hosted 100 Boys and Girls club campers for the all-day, all-week events and donated a $500 check from the NCAA Pack the House contest to the Boys & Girls Club. 

SAAC also donated two "stores" to the clubs at Northside Recreation Center and Riverview Elementary School that served as a rewards program for Character Education. The kids earn " Be Great Bucks" for demonstrating good character, sportsmanship or for success at school.

According to Norma McDuffie, Winthrop's Senior Woman's Administrator and SAAC Advisor, the kids go shopping at the stores on Friday for items of value. "The kids can save up for bigger items or get little things for fun or school," she said. "We found that the Northside Recreation Center had this program and the director let SAAC know that it served as a great incentive for the elementary school kids at the Northside location. Riverside, wanted to start a similar program.

"SAAC  donated two custom made cabinets especially designed to have a shop on the upper half with shelves and then storage in the base. After the cabinets were delivered to the schools, SAAC hosted a grand opening of the stores and a ribbon cutting party at each location. We  bought prizes to stock the stores and plan to continue having re-stocking days each semester," said McDuffie.

The SAAC project was helped by a sponsorship from Enterprise rental Cars. The Winthrop student-athletes also conducted fundraisers to help support the "store" project and to use for events during Eagle Week.