Nov. 22, 2011

(San Diego, CA) - Last Saturday, The University of San Diego Athletic Department and Torero Student Athletes celebrated "REPRESENT" day as part of the conference-wide initiative to promote good sportsmanship by hosting a sport activity session, discussion regarding the meaning and significance of sportsmanship, USD campus tour and concluded with attendance of the Football championship game in Torero Stadium for 100 youth in elementary and middle schools.

"Represent" a campaign initially launched by our very own West Coast Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Sportsmanship Task Force, challenges everyone (student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and fans) to proudly REPRESENT themselves by engaging in positive, respectful behavior and elevating and celebrating performance through expressions of support, rather than negative behavior.

This marks the fourth year of USD's Torero Achievement Club outreach program with the SD County Office of Education. The County Office of Education and each school devise their own reward/incentive program for students, to reward student achievement, behavior and attendance. This fall, outreach by the Athletic Department has brought 900 youth to campus. Children, parents and school staff members from local San Diego County Schools tour the USD campus and then attend Torero Football and Men's Basketball games.

The Torero Achievement Club was initiated by USD Associate Athletic Director Steve Becvar and Assistant Director of Student Athletes Service Ron Valenzuela to strengthen school-university relationships.

"Visiting a college campus has the potential to create a memorable and lasting impression and nothing beats coming to the University of San Diego and seeing it for oneself," said Valenzuela. "Postsecondary education remains one of the most beneficial investments that individuals can make and that a university can make in its community".