BRETTON WOODS, N.H. – University of Maine student-athletes Ryan Fahey (Quincy, Mass.) of the men’s swimming team and Liz Wood (Catlett, Va.) of the women’s basketball team were named to the America East 2015 Helping Hands Team Tuesday evening at the conference’s annual awards dinner at Mount Washington in Bretton Woods, N.H.
The award recognizes a male and female student-athlete from each America East institution for their dedication to bettering their communities through service.
Fahey excelled in the classroom as he was named a Maine Scholar-Athlete Award winner and named to the America East Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll. He was a Dean’s List honoree and was a member of the Sophomore Owls and Senior Skulls. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Fahey was a member of SAAC. He taught swimming lessons to area youth, volunteered at the Cubs Track Triathlon, read to children at local schools, and volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House in Bangor. He was also a member of the University Volunteer Ambulance Corp.
Liz Wood earned the 2015 M Club Dean Smith Award, presented annually to the top male and female student-athlete with outstanding academic and athletic achievement along with citizenship and community service. She was the America East Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She was named to the America East All-Academic Team and tied for the highest grade point average on the team. She is a member of the Honors College, a Maine Scholar-Athlete Silver Medalist and named to the America East Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll.
Wood is a two-time WBCA Good Works Team nominee. She is Co-President of UMaine’s SAAC. Her volunteer activities include: starting an anti-hazing poster campaign, wrapping Christmas presents to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House, coordinating school visits, cooking dinners at the Ronald McDonald House, Toys for Tots and a Soap Drive for the Homeless Shelter. She organized an Under-21 homecoming tailgate for all students. She is a SAAC liaison with student-government and works with the Honors College Advisory Board. She and her teammates served Thanksgiving Dinner to the Homeless at Manna in Bangor. She visits schools bi-monthly to read to students and volunteers with the Special Olympics.
The America East Helping Hands Award was established in 2013 to recognize a male and female student-athlete from each of the conference’s nine institutions for their exemplary efforts in the area of community service while remaining in good academic standing. Each institution, at its’ discretion, selects a male and female representative to be recognized annually by the America East Conference.
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.
The University of Maine is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2015. In conjunction with this, the athletic department will celebrate 150 student-athletes achievements over the next year.
