SALT LAKE CITY - Real Salt Lake and the Salt Lake City School District continue its "Welcome Back to School!" partnership by honoring six volunteers, one teacher and one business as part of the RSL-New England Revolution pre game on Saturday, September 3. RSL is expecting thousands of Salt Lake City school children, teachers, administrators and families to attend Saturday's game. Tickets are being provided for the School District by multiple RSL sponsors, including SuperCuts, Stevens-Henager College and Dick's Sporting Goods.
As part of the unprecedented partnership between sports and education, RSL players last week visited all 31 Salt Lake City Schools to welcome students back for the first day of the 2005-06 school year. In addition to the eight individuals noted below, game festivities will feature elementary, middle school and high school students participating in pre-game, halftime and post-game activities.
Wendy Weixler: School Volunteer of the Year - Weixler volunteers in numerous ways with the Parent Teachers Association, the annual school musical and the History Fair at Bryant Middle School.
Nicole Gummersall: Middle School Youth Volunteer of the Year - Gummersall is a person who volunteers her time to make good things happen with sing-ins and socials for students. She helps at a local retirement center, Parklane, with crafts and games.
Christina Cole: Newcomer Volunteer of the Year - Cole began her first year as a school volunteer last year and aided students at Escalante Elementary in a nature study project that earned them the prestigious National Geographic award.
Don Willie: High School Youth Volunteer of the Year - Willie finds his most rewarding moments when helping Special Needs students who are mentally or developmentally challenged. He is also the recipient of the 2005 Utah Commission on Volunteers Youth Service Award.
Fatima Shanyallow: Elementary School Youth Volunteer of the Year - Shaneyallow is a great role model and a great friend who has the trust and respect of the students at Riley Elementary.
Barbara Lovejoy: Teacher Volunteer of the Year - Lovejoy is relentless in pursuit of acquiring resources to better meet the needs of all students. She recruited 50 volunteers from the community and provided them training in the I Can Read program so they could tutor students one on one.
Salt Lake Rotary Club: Exemplary Business Partner of the Year - The Rotary Club has been a dedicated partner at Franklin Elementary for many years. This past year alone, they provided over 1,800 hours of service which has increased student self esteem, student learning and student achievement.
Michelle Condie: Teacher of the Year, Emerson Elementary
MCNICOL PROMOTED TO RSL'S DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS:
Real Salt Lake announced today that Stacy McNicol has been promoted to Director of Business Operations effective immediately. As Director of Business Operations, McNicol will oversee RSL's entire human resource department, internship program, staff development, coordinate exhibition games and an assistant to the general manager.
"It's an amazing opportunity for me and it is an area where I believe I can be an asset to the Real Salt Lake organization," McNicol said. "I look forward to helping the front office of Real Salt Lake meet its full potential and thank Steve Pastorino for providing me with this opportunity."
McNicol joined RSL on Nov. 17, 2004 after spending five years as a co-owner and Director of Operations for the USL Division Two Utah Blitzz Men's Professional Soccer Team. Prior to the Utah Blitzz, McNicol worked for Salt Lake Regional Medical Center for 12 years. She has an extensive history in the sport of soccer in the state of Utah, adding nearly 30 years of knowledge and involvement to Real Salt Lake.
McNicol assists the General Manager with human resource and office management responsibilities. She earned an associates degree from Weber State University in Health Science. McNicol currently lives in Centerville, Utah and has three sons, BJ, Ian and Aaron.
