University of Minnesota Athletics
McMillen Named December's MVG
12/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Student-Athlete Development
The University of Minnesota and the Gopher athletics student-athlete development program will recognize one male and one female student-athlete each month, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty as ambassadors of the maroon and gold. New this year, Gopher athletics will announce its `Most Valuable Gophers' at the start of each month. This month's award goes out two individuals who have made their marks on MAGIC (Maroon and Gold Impacting the Community) throughout their Gopher careers in women's hockey Milica McMillen and football's Luke McAvoy.
Criteria for the award will be based on one or more of the three student-athlete development areas:
• Leadership - leadership roles on athletic team, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representatives, student group participation, campus panels, team hosts or other roles as ambassadors of the Maroon and Gold, campus committees
• Professional Development - embracing career opportunities on campus and programs offered by the athletics department, to include: internships, volunteer and part-time employment focused on career development.
• Commitment to Service - volunteering through MAGIC and on their own in the community (may or may not be career related). All hours considered are logged through the University of Minnesota system.
December 2014 Female MVG: Milica McMillen (women's hockey)
Milica McMillen, a junior from St. Paul, Minn., has logged the most hours by either a male or female students-athlete since her arrival on campus. Since her freshman season, McMillen has given back nearly 190 hours of community service. She has volunteered with Hopekids, has been active with the Eat Smart, Play Hard program, youth clinics, visiting elementary schools and the Masonic Children's Hospital to name a few. Taking it upon herself, McMillen organized a Special Olympics event at her former high school, Breck, as she gathered Gopher student-athletes to the event.
Q: What drives you to volunteer through MAGIC?
Milica McMillen: I like volunteering with MAGIC because there are so many different opportunities to choose from. I can pick the days that work with my schedule and volunteer when I am free. All of them are fun and give impact for others. I've been many places and they really enjoy having student athletes help out, which in turn makes me feel like I'm making a difference outside of competition.
Q: What was your most memorable volunteer activity?
MM: I think my most memorable activity would be the Hope Day festival we host each year. It's amazing seeing so many different families attend, and watch the kids have so much fun. Most the kids have terminal or rare illnesses, but for one day, they get out of the hospital, forget all that and just play. They are so brave and the day is all about us serving them.
Q: How do your efforts impact the community?
MM: I've done events from, packing food to making special appearances and signing autographs in public. It doesn't matter if we are seen by tons of people or just by one person. I think the fact that student athletes are noticed doing something other than school or their sport allows us to be role models for what it means to be a part of Gopher Athletics, and shows that we care about bettering our community.
Q: You've organized a volunteer event on your own, what was your experience like?
MM: I helped at the Special Olympics Floor Hockey Tournament or Poly Hockey. It's a state tournament that is held every year and it happens to be at my former high school. I started volunteering at that event since I was in seventh grade on the hockey team. When I had the opportunity to get my Gopher team to go, everyone jumped at it. I just wanted to make sure that everyone knew where to go and could help out where they could. We handed out medals, cheered on the athletes. It was a great event and my team loved it. Hockey was the one thing that everyone had in common and it brought a lot of people together.
