Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Last month, Mark Molesworth, University of Wisconsin-Platteville athletic director, helped deliver school supplies in a drive spearheaded by the Pioneer Student-Athlete Advisory Council.

For the second year, UWP student athletes collected supplies to help Cave Valley Basic School in Jamaica, a school of 4 to 6 year olds. The two-room school is near Negril towards Montego Bay, located in the hills on very bumpy, windy roads, Molesworth said.

The reality of the unique partnership between UWP and the Cave Valley Basic School in Jamaica hit home for Molesworth when discussing the computer in the classroom.

"The Cave Valley principal mentioned the school could really use a printer but couldn't afford it, and I'm thinking 'they're only about $50, and they can't afford that?'" said Molesworth. "For us, it's so easy to go to a store and pick up a printer. For them, it's a monumental task. It certainly keeps things in perspective. They're missing so many things we take for granted."

Mark and his wife Beth Molesworth make a least one week-long trip a year to Jamaica, and they have gotten to know the locals very well.

"On our trips down there, various people had talked about bringing school supplies with them each time they came down," Molesworth said. "I saw pictures of the schools and how rudimentary or primitive they were. Two years ago, I talked with PSAAC about the project, and the kids were all like, 'yea, let's do this.'"

In 2008, the student athletes collected 22 boxes of items, and this year, they loaded up 115 pounds of school supplies. Molesworth said considerable work was done to get through the red tape. The shipments needed to be approved by the Jamaica Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education. The packages took almost a month to clear customs be delivered.

"All of the students and staff were so thankful and beside themselves," said Molesworth.

Among the items the Pioneer athletic director brought with him this year was a picture of PSAAC holding both the Jamaican flag and a flag with the UWP athletic logo, helping bring the groups closer together.

"For PSAAC and myself, to see what a huge impact this has, because the school has so little, makes it very rewarding," Molesworth said. "Beth and I have been there many times and it was nice to give something back to those people who have been so nice to us over the years."

Community service plays a vital role in the experiences of Pioneer student athletes. UWP was awarded the inaugural National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators Community Service Award in 2001 and all Pioneer teams do various service projects throughout the year.