University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers on MAGIC Bus
3/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Student-Athlete Development
Some of you Gopher fans have seen our M.A.G.I.C. bus (Maroon and Gold Impacting the Community) visiting your schools, neighborhoods or communities. When you look at the bus, did you ever wonder how 12 of our 750 student-athletes receive the honor of being on the side of the bus? Here's the first of a four-part series on some of our great student-athletes who have given back and represented their program in a positive way. The first group recognized hails from football, women's basketball and men's gymnastics. Tune in next week for another edition!
Gopher Football: Peter Mortell (Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy HS)
Not only has he made his impact known on the field, but since he walked onto the University of Minnesota campus in 2010, Mortell has already volunteered for over 57 hours of community service. Attending HopeKids events, to reading to elementary children, Mortell has also visited the U of M Masonic Children's Hospital and the U of M's Youth Day Out. In addition to volunteering, Peter used his $452 Best Buy gift card that he received through the Citrus Bowl to purchase toys and every day necessities for the St. Joseph's Home for Children. For more on this story, read here. Thanks Peter for your contribution to the Gopher M.A.G.I.C. program.
Gopher Women's Basketball: Rachel Banham (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS)
Rachel Banham has been giving back to her local community since the start of her freshman year in 2010. While becoming a standout in her own right, Banham has volunteered for over 94 hours as a Golden Gopher. With her decision to come back to Minnesota for her fifth year (red-shirting her senior year due to injury), Banham has helped out with the HopeKids organization, the Golden Gopher Fund Thank-a-Thon, Urban Adventures and the Women Run the Cities events. Thanks for helping out our local community Rachel.
Men's Gymnastics: Paul Montague (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead HS)
In just his third year as a member of the Gopher men's gymnastics program, Paul Montague has already posted over 68 hours of community service. While helping raise money for cancer awareness to helping out at Feed My Starving Children, Montague has also logged additional hours on his own. During his time as a Gopher student-athlete, he's visited elementary schools and played bingo at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge. Thanks you for all our outstanding efforts to give to those in need Paul.
