Warm Feelings for Student-Athletes at Wintrust Blankets Chicago Initiative
9/17/2019 1:41:00 PM | ATHLETICS
Blue Demons decorate blankets for the children at St. Vincent de Paul Center
CHICAGO – One of the first things men's tennis freshman Lars Peder Minsaas did after his long journey from Norway was to make some blankets.
And he enjoyed every moment of the creative service project.
For the fourth year in a row, Zimbabwe's Rutendo Chimbaru of the BIG EAST runner-up women's track team enthusiastically joined in on the Wintrust Blankets Chicago initiative.
Several hundred DePaul athletics administrators, coaches, staff members and student-athletes participated in the annual Athletics Orientation program last week that traditionally marks the beginning of a new season.
There were speeches and presentations from prominent members of the campus community including DePaul President Dr. Gabriel Esteban, Vice-President of Student Affairs Dr. Gene Zdziarski, Title IX Coordinator Dr. Ashley Knight, Kate Bellamy (Office of Health, Promotion and Wellness), Dr. Ani Frank on academic integrity, career management specialists Dr. Heather Packo and Jade Sobczak, faculty athletic representative Dr. John McEnroe, DePaul chaplain Tom Judge, athletics director Jean Lenti Ponsetto, senior associate athletics director Dr. Jill Hollembeak, Dr. Kate O'Brien of athletics academic advising and Dr. Sue Walsh of sports medicine.
The Blue Demons spread out all over the McGrath-Phillips Arena court decorating the blankets with their own personal designs. The blankets will be donated to the children of the St. Vincent de Paul Center day care program.
"It was very fun, first and foremost," Minsaas said. "I got to meet a lot of the players, my teammates, a lot of the student-athletes from other teams and the president. It was just a great experience. Basketball, volleyball, softball, more sports – I didn't even know we had that many sports.
I'm from Norway, came here to play tennis and they have a very good tennis program. The coach was very nice, and the atmosphere was super. I've heard DePaul is just a great school in general. Chicago and DePaul was a great choice for me."
This was Chimbaru's fourth year making blankets---and was this the final time?
"No, I'm coming back for my fifth year so I'll be back to make more blankets," she said with a laugh. "It feels good to know that we're helping the kids and it's also something easy to do.
"We also have a challenge with our teammates and it's a very good experience. I encourage it. We have little competitions to see who can make the most blankets.
"We try to see who can do the most, and every competition you want to win. Even though you're not in an official contest, it's more of an internal competition."
Like Chimbaru, Minsaas was among the last Blue Demons to finish, putting in a little overtime that will result in some gleeful faces.
"It's very into the ideals of DePaul with the Vincentian spirit and you feel great just making other people happy," he said. "They don't have the same privilege we do, especially as a student-athlete so it's an honor to be here."
Did he ever make blankets back in Scandinavia?
"We made snow igloos but that was not the same thing," he said. "This is completely different in a very positive way.
"My teammates just make me meet new people every day---the volleyball team---I meet new people all the time because of tennis and because of DePaul. I'm very privileged and honored to be here right now."
Chimbaru reflected on participating in her fourth Orientation program.
"The day is pretty long and we have a lot of different presentations, but it's one of the few days that we get the entire athletic department together so you get to see new faces, people back from the summer and catch up with people from different sports," she said. "And you get to hear the other side of the athletic department not just the coaches but the administration and staff, too. It's cool."
After setting a program record with BIG EAST runner-up finishes at both the indoor and outdoor track championships, what does Chimbaru & Co. do for an encore?
"The goal is always to win and to go for that No. 1 spot, but we have a different team this year," she said. "We lost a lot of seniors last year and have a lot of freshmen coming in so hopefully work together, work hard and go for that No. 1 spot."
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And he enjoyed every moment of the creative service project.
For the fourth year in a row, Zimbabwe's Rutendo Chimbaru of the BIG EAST runner-up women's track team enthusiastically joined in on the Wintrust Blankets Chicago initiative.
Several hundred DePaul athletics administrators, coaches, staff members and student-athletes participated in the annual Athletics Orientation program last week that traditionally marks the beginning of a new season.
There were speeches and presentations from prominent members of the campus community including DePaul President Dr. Gabriel Esteban, Vice-President of Student Affairs Dr. Gene Zdziarski, Title IX Coordinator Dr. Ashley Knight, Kate Bellamy (Office of Health, Promotion and Wellness), Dr. Ani Frank on academic integrity, career management specialists Dr. Heather Packo and Jade Sobczak, faculty athletic representative Dr. John McEnroe, DePaul chaplain Tom Judge, athletics director Jean Lenti Ponsetto, senior associate athletics director Dr. Jill Hollembeak, Dr. Kate O'Brien of athletics academic advising and Dr. Sue Walsh of sports medicine.
The Blue Demons spread out all over the McGrath-Phillips Arena court decorating the blankets with their own personal designs. The blankets will be donated to the children of the St. Vincent de Paul Center day care program.
"It was very fun, first and foremost," Minsaas said. "I got to meet a lot of the players, my teammates, a lot of the student-athletes from other teams and the president. It was just a great experience. Basketball, volleyball, softball, more sports – I didn't even know we had that many sports.
I'm from Norway, came here to play tennis and they have a very good tennis program. The coach was very nice, and the atmosphere was super. I've heard DePaul is just a great school in general. Chicago and DePaul was a great choice for me."
This was Chimbaru's fourth year making blankets---and was this the final time?
"No, I'm coming back for my fifth year so I'll be back to make more blankets," she said with a laugh. "It feels good to know that we're helping the kids and it's also something easy to do.
"We also have a challenge with our teammates and it's a very good experience. I encourage it. We have little competitions to see who can make the most blankets.
"We try to see who can do the most, and every competition you want to win. Even though you're not in an official contest, it's more of an internal competition."
Like Chimbaru, Minsaas was among the last Blue Demons to finish, putting in a little overtime that will result in some gleeful faces.
"It's very into the ideals of DePaul with the Vincentian spirit and you feel great just making other people happy," he said. "They don't have the same privilege we do, especially as a student-athlete so it's an honor to be here."
Did he ever make blankets back in Scandinavia?
"We made snow igloos but that was not the same thing," he said. "This is completely different in a very positive way.
"My teammates just make me meet new people every day---the volleyball team---I meet new people all the time because of tennis and because of DePaul. I'm very privileged and honored to be here right now."
Chimbaru reflected on participating in her fourth Orientation program.
"The day is pretty long and we have a lot of different presentations, but it's one of the few days that we get the entire athletic department together so you get to see new faces, people back from the summer and catch up with people from different sports," she said. "And you get to hear the other side of the athletic department not just the coaches but the administration and staff, too. It's cool."
After setting a program record with BIG EAST runner-up finishes at both the indoor and outdoor track championships, what does Chimbaru & Co. do for an encore?
"The goal is always to win and to go for that No. 1 spot, but we have a different team this year," she said. "We lost a lot of seniors last year and have a lot of freshmen coming in so hopefully work together, work hard and go for that No. 1 spot."
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