A number of the members of the St. John’s College “Pink Storm” Ladies’s Monitor & Discipline group, pose with Head Coach Guyanese-born, Aliann Pompey, standing in second row, fourth from left (fingers in peace signal), in entrance of very long time buddy and colleague, Roger Gary (fourth from left stooping).
Photograph courtesy Roger Gary
The torrential downpour on Saturday, Sept. 23 couldn’t hold away the pressure of the St. John College Pink Storm Lady’s Monitor & Discipline and Cross-Nation group from finishing up their mission to present again to the group whereas serving over 500 residents who joined lengthy traces at Calvary’s Mission Meals Pantry in Queens.
Sporting rain gears, the varied group of feminine college students, from as far-off as Norway, and components of the Unites States, like Indiana, rolled up their sleeves and set to work. The primary batch began from 6 a.m. the place they assembled veggies and fruits for distribution.
The second batch handed out dried items, canned meals, and nutritious objects like eggs, bread, and treats, placing smiles on the faces of a whole lot of shoppers who appreciated the type providers supplied to them.
St. John’s Head Coach, Guyanese-born, award-winning Olympian Aliann Pompey who joined the women handy out meals, instructed Caribbean Life that student-athletes come to St. John’s College anticipating to do three issues — win, serve, and graduate.
“Service to others in the neighborhood is as necessary as successful on the sphere of play and as graduating. It’s one other method of studying necessary classes that you simply’ll by no means obtain in a classroom.”
She stated the group volunteers weekly a lot of the college 12 months, however this was the primary time with Calvary’s Mission Meals Pantry. “The conversations among the many younger women after have been telling. They discovered new avenues to discover, discovered extra about themselves, and what they needed to do with their lives. It’s all the time good to achieve a brand new perspective on life and we’re all grateful for having had that have, stated Pompey, 4-time Olympian and former NCAA 400-meter champion.
Pompey, who was named the brand new director of the St. John’s monitor and subject program in August of 2021 after seven seasons as an assistant coach underneath Jim Damage, praised the scholars for his or her beneficiant service, quoting,
Brooklyn Chestnut, Group Captain, and Senior from Indiana who stated, “It was so good to be part of one thing that provides again to group and the those who make New York, New York.”
“It was actually giving to have the ability to give again to the group, and to see how a lot it was appreciated. It places the on a regular basis busy life into perspective,” stated Nora Haugen, Sophomore from Norway.
Pompey, who’s presently in Switzerland for conferences, in 2019, was named the President of the Panama Sports activities Athlete Fee. She was elected to characterize greater than 6,600 athletes throughout 41 international locations that compete within the Pan American Video games and has served as a standing member of the Athletes’ Fee since 2015.
She additionally serves on the group’s government board and as an Worldwide Olympic Committee’s Athlete Liaison. Pompey is now in her third 12 months because the Metropolitan Athletic Convention president.
Below Pompey’s management, the ‘Johnnies’ have earned many Large East Championships, together with Excessive Level Performer honors for Tatyana McKenzie in each the 2023 Indoor and Outside Large East Championships, Jamora Alves within the 2023 Large East Outside Championships and Leah Anderson within the 2022 & 2021 Indoor and Outside Large East Championship. Alves additionally certified for the 2023 NCAA Monitor and Discipline Championships in discus.
Shut buddy, award-winning clothier, Roger Gary who’s a staunch volunteer and board member of the twenty plus years Calvary’s Mission, operated by Guyanese nationwide, Tony Singh and his household each Saturday, stated he was comfortable to welcome the monitor star, and the Pink Storm group, noting that it has been years within the making.
Gary stated it was ironic that the Pink Storm confirmed up on a ‘stormy” day and applauded their efforts to present again to the group in such an efficient method. He seems to be ahead to them returning to proceed their mission of service.
