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Samantha Choma Named to Red Cross-NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program
HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Samantha Choma, a
sophomore from Webster, N.Y., has been selected to participate
in the prestigious 2010-2011 American Red Cross-NAIA Collegiate
Leadership Program. Choma is a defender for the Houghton College
women’s soccer team.
The leadership program is in its fourth year, and works to inspire, motivate and create a new and diverse generation of American Red Cross volunteers and leaders through exemplifying the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character program: respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. Fourteen students around the nation were selected for this year’s program.
The once-in-a-lifetime experience allows NAIA student-athletes to be part of a team made up of young adults from NAIA campuses throughout the country. The kick-off event includes two weeks of training at the Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington D.C. this summer. Participants will engage in professional leadership training and workshops presented by senior leaders from the nation’s largest non-profit organizations. These students will learn from civic business leaders how to uncover their leadership potential off the playing field. The participants will organize successful campus blood drives, actively participate on a leadership board, and take part in diversity and cultural competency training. Each student will receive a scholarship provided by the Red Cross and State Farm Insurance.
This season, Choma was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) Women’s NAIA All-Mideast Region First Team and the All-American Mideast Conference First Team. She is not only a key defender, but she also serves as the team chaplain. When not playing soccer, Choma works as a student intern in the college’s visit office, serves as a desk proctor at the gym, and assists with the game-clock during men’s and women’s basketball games. She was a First-Year Introduction leader this fall – assisting new students with the transition into college.
Choma is an inclusive childhood education major with a concentration in Spanish. “After graduation, I hope to work in the inner city back home in Rochester as a special education teacher,” she explained. “I was exposed to urban work and ministry throughout high school, and I grew up with and have a special connection with individuals with disabilities. My hope would be to combine these two passions into one through education.”
“Samantha is a great selection for this honor,” Houghton College athletic director H. “Skip” Lord commented. “She is highly respected by teammates and opponents alike. She lives out everything that we hope our students-athletes represent.”
This is the second year that a Houghton student-athlete has participated in the leadership program. Last year, Houghton women’s basketball player Lisa Skrypnik was named to the program. “Participating in the Red Cross Leadership Program is an honor,” Choma stated. “I am thrilled to be able to take part in this new and exciting opportunity. I can’t wait to see all the surprises and challenges that the Lord has in store throughout my involvement in this program. I’m very excited to go to Washington D.C. and represent both my school and my Savior in this way."
