Sophomore runner Katie O'Grady was honored by the East Coast Conference with the John Smillie, Jr. Award for overcoming personal and physical challenges to continue to play the sport that she loves. Katie has excelled as a First Team All-Conference Cross Country runner for the Spartans despite her battle with Cystic Fibrosis which affects her breathing. The Spartan Athletic program also won their 6th consecutive Community Cup which represents the school with the most community service hours done by their student-athletes.
O'Grady has defied the odds with her athletic success. Cystic Fbrosis is a disease that affects all aspects of the body, but most affected is the pancreas and lungs. The body produces thick mucus, which clogs airways. O'Grady has a regimented schedule of treatments that takes two hours each day. She balances her treatments, her classes (biology major) and still excels in her sport. O'Grady is coming off her best cross country season to date. She was the Spartans leade runner for the season and helped the team to a second place conference finish and a program best fifth place regional finish. O'Grady never comlains about her challenges, yet instead she excels with a smile on her face. She is an inspiration to the school, her peers and to anyone facing a challenge.
The Community Cup has been a very important award for St. Thomas Aquinas as it represents a key component of our college's mission statement. The athletes averaged more than 23 hours each of community service. They have participated in many local community events off campus and also held events where they invited the local youth to the campus. The events the Spartan athletes participated in were the SIDS Walk, the United Way Spring Day of Caring, Touching Bases and Take A Kid to the Game Day to name a few.
