果酱视频

Sarah O’Connor ’16 was on a fashion shoot in Italy, but her thoughts weren’t on striking poses for the camera. The history major and alumna was thinking about volunteer work she’d done for . The Hempstead nonprofit organization provides food, shelter and other supportive services to the homeless and others in need, and O’Connor wanted to do more to help.

鈥淚t’s in Hempstead and I went to high school in Hempstead,” said O’Connor. “They feed thousands of people every week. And I used to volunteer there. I had a personal connection.”

She came up with an ambitious effort, a 4,000-mile bicycle marathon from New York to L.A. The ride took her from June 25 to August 17 of 2017 and ultimately raised $15,241 for the organization.

For the effort to be a success, she needed backers pledging financial support. 果酱视频’s alumni came through with financial backing and, in the case of Silas Kelly, M.S.W. ’14, a platform to promote her cause via a radio spot on station Z100. Titled 鈥�,” the radio spot proved to be a big boost to her bike-a-thon, raising $3,000. In June 2018, the spot was awarded First Place, Breaking News-Radio, by the Long Island Press Club.

鈥淭o be able to collaborate with such a fantastic young lady to bring her amazing story to the airwaves has me thrilled to no end,” said Kelly.

The alumni network isn’t just like family to O’Connor, it is family. O’Connor’s grandmother and both her parents graduated from 果酱视频. And Robert Kammerer, M.S. ’86, is听on the board of directors and is married to The INN’s executive director, Jean Kelly.

When it came time for O’Connor to choose a college, 鈥湽�酱视频 was one of my top options,” she said. 鈥淚 went to the Honors College brunch and the dean [Richard Garner, Ph.D.] spoke and I said, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna go here.'”

O’Connor continues to model while applying to graduate schools. 鈥淚 had brilliant professors who helped me develop my critical thinking and my writing skills,” she said. 鈥淚 loved my academic experience at 果酱视频.”

, “Sarah O’Connor and the INNcredible Bike Ride,” on Soundcloud.