`A really good group of kids'; Athletes boost U.S. soldiers overseas.

Byline: Elizabeth Latham

FITCHBURG - Between essays, projects, exams, and grueling sports practices, games and meets, several student athletes at Fitchburg State College took time to remember our country's soldiers at war.

Student athletes from the eight Massachusetts state colleges which form the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference, come together each year to organize a joint community service project.

Last October, the student athletic advisory committee, which is comprised of four representatives from each of the eight colleges, vied for the best project idea. This year, Bridgewater State College won the competition with the idea of assembling care packages to send to soldiers overseas.

Over the last few months, the eight MASCAC groups have been collecting different items to put into the 125 care packages. The packages will include items such as shampoo, toilet paper, razors, and shaving cream. The Fitchburg State College group was responsible for collecting 125 packages of Q-Tips, bar soap, and ChapSticks to add to the packages.

Since the inception of the project, Fitchburg State's MASCAC has temporarily lost one of its members to the military efforts. A member of the women's soccer team began basic training with the National Guard in Texas.

"A lot of us are thinking about her. As I have been doing this project, I've been thinking about how young the soldiers are and how difficult it must be for them to be at war," said Rebecca Shersnow, physical trainer and SAAC adviser.

"Many of the soldiers are the same ages as these athletes," added Ms. Shersnow.

In October's MASCAC community service competition, Fitchburg State's student athletic advisory committee members Leo Cote, Emily Creen, Robert Johnson, and Jessie Krause presented the idea of participating in the local Habitat for Humanity efforts in Townsend. They were so enthusiastic about the idea that although the idea didn't win at the MASCAC competition, they decided to go ahead with the idea anyway.

This month, the 35 members of the Fitchburg State MASCAC group will spend one Saturday helping to build a home for a deserving family in Townsend.

"I'm lucky I have a really good group of kids to work with," Ms. Shersnow said.

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Fitchburg State College MASCAC members, from left, Meagan Belanger, Marla Cavarretta, Neil Gendron, Leo Cote, Jessie Krause, Brittany Tessier, and Jen Morse proudly display some of the items they have collected for soldiers overseas.

PHOTOG: ELIZABETH LATHAM