Special to The Record
St. Catharine College Athletic Training students recently spent a day of service at Churchill Downs in Louisville with students from military families who have lost parents to combat in the nation’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Students from the athletic training program reached out to the community on Nov. 3 when they spent the afternoon at the track with children from Kentucky National Guard Family and Youth Services.
“This is a great opportunity for our students” said athletic training program director Justin Farr. “Our college challenges us to embody the four pillars of Dominican life and today we showed our sense of community by helping others.”
The students spent their day laughing along with the children who had been dealt the devastating blow of losing a loved one in combat.
“It was amazing to see the smiling faces as they poured into Millionaire’s Row” said Farr. “This activity gave them an opportunity to escape reality and just be kids.”
The children filed into the Downs for the chance to make craft squirrels, turkeys or have their faces painted.
“I don’t know who had more fun; our students or the children involved” said Farr. “At their first opportunity our kids were getting their faces painted along with the children.”
“Overall, this was a great opportunity to show fun to those who have been dealt challenges” said Farr. “It’s always good to be reminded how great we have it in our lives and share our Dominican values with others.”
