ATLANTA -- The Oglethorpe University men’s basketball team was selected by the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Metro Atlanta as the winner of the 2006 John Swain Volunteer of the Year Award. The team will receive the award at the Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs’ annual “Youth of the Year” ceremony at the Westin Buckhead on November 14.

The Oglethorpe University men’s basketball team was nominated for this award by the Brookhaven Boy’s and Girl’s Club where they have been active volunteers as mentors for over three years. Each of the 22 Boy’s and Girl’s Clubs of Metro Atlanta nominated a group or individual to receive the “Volunteer of the Year” distinction. A panel of judges surveyed the nominations and bestowed the honor to Oglethorpe’s men’s basketball team.

The team has spent over 200 hours each fall volunteering for the Brookhaven Boy’s and Girl’s Club and providing members with help on everything from their homework to their jump shot.

“I could not be more proud of all the young men and women at Oglethorpe who devote significant parts of their lives to making a difference to our city,” said Oglethorpe University president Lawrence M. Schall. “Coach Ponder and his student athletes are a great inspiration to all of us.

“We are very honored by this award and are thrilled to have formed this relationship with the Brookhaven Boy’s and Girl’s Club,” said Oglethorpe University men’s head basketball coach Phillip Ponder. “We are constantly striving to excel not only on the court, but in the classroom and community as well.”

Oglethorpe’s commitment to service includes campus relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, an Alternative Spring Break trip to New Orleans to assist in the clean-up efforts and a partnership with Atlanta Public Schools for a day of service during President Lawrence M. Schall’s April inauguration. Oglethorpe kicked-off the 2006-07 school year with a service project at PATH Academy as part of freshmen orientation and participated in Hands On Atlanta Day in October.