University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers on M.A.G.I.C. Bus
3/24/2015 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? In the third of our four-part series, we feature student-athletes who have given back and represented their program in a positive way. This third group includes women's tennis, baseball and women's hockey.
Women's Tennis: Julia Courter (Lawrenceville, Ga.)
As one of Minnesota's staples in the doubles lineup, Courter is also a staple in M.A.G.I.C.'s volunteer efforts. Since being on the Gopher tennis team since 2010, Courter has volunteered over 220 hours of community service. A great person to work with elementary-aged children, Courter has volunteered with Kidstop, various local schools, HopeKids as well as Special Olympics. She has also helped at multiple Unlimited Dance Marathon fundraising events as well as department food and toy drives. Thank you Julia Courter for your countless hours of support and guidance with the M.A.G.I.C. program.
Baseball: Jake Bergren (St. Charles, Ill./North HS)
Along with his play on the field, Bergren has been a great asset in the local community. The St. Charles, Ill., native has volunteered over 120 hours since his arrival on campus in 2010. Aside from helping M.A.G.I.C. at food and toy drives as well as elementary school visits, Bergren has also joined the Gophers at Camp Odayin (camps for children with heart disease) and the Washburn Games. With some of his teammates, Bergren has also given his time to kids clinics, TwinsFest and the Highland Friendship Club. Thank you Jake for your continued efforts in the community.
Women's Hockey: Milica McMillen (St. Paul, Minn./Breck HS)
Not only is a standout on the ice, but Milica McMillen is a standout student-athlete in the community. With the most community service hours of any featured on the M.A.G.I.C. bus, McMillen has over 260 community service hours. With countless hours helping elementary kids, McMillen is one of the top student-athletes to volunteer whenever she is needed. She also helps every year with her high school and the Special Olympics Floor Hockey Championships, while encouraging her teammates to attend. Along with her efforts, she has also helped out at the Animal Humaine Society, Playworks and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Thank you Milicia for being one of our top volunteers.
