Providence College Announces Partnership with City’s Recreation Department for Junior Friars Program

Providence College announced a partnership with the City of Providence, via a press release on Monday, that will unite the College’s Athletic Department with the City’s Recreation Department to form the Junior Friars imitative. Providence College will donate tickets to Friar athletic events and student-athletes from PC will spend time with City students on Providence’s campus. Students from City schools will gain eligibility in this Junior Friars initiative by participating in Providence Recreation programs.

One of the athletic events that will be part of this new Junior Friars initiative will be Providence’s game against Bryant on December 12th. The College will donate 100 tickets to the Providence Recreation Department for that game and there will be a presentation made recognizing the partnership of the College and City on the court during a media timeout.

Here are some quotes from the release:

Providence College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P.

“Many students from urban areas do not have their sights set on attending college,” said PC President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. “By providing an opportunity for these City of Providence students to visit our campus and spend time talking with our student-athletes, we hope we will be able to convince them of the importance of focusing on their academics as well as their athletic opportunities, and plant the seed for them to begin thinking seriously about attending college once they graduate from high school.”

City of Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza

“Through the Junior Friars program, our students will get to see some of the best college athletes in the country play while they learn what it takes to be a collegiate athlete off the court,” said Mayor Elorza. “I want to thank Providence College Athletics for teaming up with the City to provide the youth the opportunity to see the importance of not only athletic success, but also academic success.”

Providence College Athletic Director Bob Driscoll

“We are proud to provide an opportunity for these students to visit Providence College and to see our student-athletes in action,” said Providence College Athletic Director Robert G. Driscoll. “It is important for these young men and women to meet some positive roles models who can share their experiences as well as speak about the dedication that is required to succeed at the next level. That level of focus and discipline is true in academics as well as out on the practice and playing fields.”

Providence Director of Recreation Mike Stephens

“It is great to see these college students demonstrate how much time and effort is put in to becoming a successful student-athlete,” said Providence Director of Recreation Mike Stephens. “The children will be able to see what it takes to be part of a nationally recognized athletic program, both on and off the court.”

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President Brendan Sullivan

“The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is extremely enthusiastic about participating in this program,” said Brendan Sullivan, ’16, a Men’s Cross-Country runner and SACC President.  “While community service and volunteerism are a big part of life on our campus, some of those opportunities do not involve personal interaction with younger students. Those are the programs which my fellow student-athletes enjoy the most, and we are happy to work with the Providence Recreation participants through this effort.”

Here are the athletic events that are part of this new program:

• 11/7/15 – Women’s Ice Hockey vs. UNH at Schneider Arena 2pm
• 11/21/15 – Men’s Basketball vs. Brown at the Dunk 7pm
• 12/5/15 – Women’s Basketball vs. Richmond at Mullaney Gym 1pm
• 12/12/15 – Men’s Basketball vs. Bryant at the Dunk 12pm
• 1/29/16 – Women’s Basketball vs. Georgetown at Mullaney Gym 7pm
• 3/22/16 – Men’s Lacrosse vs. UMass-Lowell at Anderson Stadium 4pm
• 4/2/16 – Men’s Lacrosse vs. St. John’s at Anderson Stadium 1pm

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