Lauren Noonan, 2014 Forward, Together forward Scholar
NIU's women's soccer team provides a model to be followed when it comes to community work. Not only do the Huskies put forth maximum effort on the field, but they also give to the people around them.
Members of the women's soccer team develop relationships with non-profit, community youth, and service organizations. Notably, the team has volunteered at NIU Cares Day, Huskies Supporting Huskies, Relay for Life, Fun Fairs, and Kids Day at the Convocation Center among other opportunities.
The Huskies also make sure to set aside games each season in to bring about breast cancer awareness. Each October, the women's soccer team holds a breast cancer awareness home game. To add, in 2009, the team competed in the KICKS Against Breast Cancer Collegiate Soccer Invitational, which was held at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears.
The Huskies also helped to start a Ronald McDonald House campaign at the university. With their dedication, members of the team coordinated with the NIU campus community to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
On occasion, work in the community can bring recognition, and in the 2013-14 scholastic year, this happened for one women's soccer player at NIU. Lauren Noonan was honored as a Forward, Together Forward scholar at NIU for her community work in addition to her success in the classroom. Noonan was one of five students who were awarded the scholarship, and she was the first student-athlete ever receive the honor.
