June 17, 2009

Irving, Texas - Tulsa senior rower Caitlin Duffy was selected to receive the Conference USA Spirit of Service award, as announced today by the league's commissioner Britton Banowsky. Twelve student-athletes from across the conference were honored.

Duffy was a four-year letterwinner for the Golden Hurricane women's rowing team, leading TU to its third-straight team title at the Midwest Intercollegiate Rowing Championship in 2009. She also earned her degree in exercise sports science and received her teaching certificate this past May.

Duffy served as the teams Community Service Coordinator this past season, and logged over 68 hours of community service. The majority of her hours were earned while on a week-long mission trip to Haiti, where she worked at a children's hospital and orphanage. The children were so malnourished that many could not feed themselves, so she fed them an attended to all their needs. She also worked with the children in the orphanage, providing some much needed attention and care. Duffy also works with the Bit by Bit organization, which provides horse therapy for special needs children.

The C-USA Spirit of Service Award is designed to recognize the community service efforts of the league's student-athletes, based upon significant community service, good academic standing and participation in their elected sport. The Spirit of Service award will be presented three times throughout the season, with today's honorees representing Conference USA's winter sports: men's and women's basketball, indoor track & field, rifle and swimming.

2008-09 C-USA SPIRIT OF SERVICE SPRING HONOREES:
Charina Sumner, East Carolina, Softball
David Murphy, Houston, Baseball
Melanie Stoehr, Marshall, Softball
Robyn Jones, Memphis, Women's Tennis
Jimmy Comerota, Rice, Baseball
Natalia Bubien, SMU, Women's Tennis
Paul Apyan, Southern Miss, Men's Golf
Nicolette Taku, Tulane, Women's Track & Field
Caitlin Duffy, Tulsa, Women's Rowing
James Oliver, UAB, Baseball
Breanne Javier, UCF, Softball
Stacie Townsend, UTEP, Softball