May 1, 2009

Bronx, N.Y. - As the 2008-09 season begins to wind down, the Fordham University Athletic Department held its 75th annual Block F Awards Dinner at the Villa Barone Manor on April 29th to honor Fordham University's student-athletes for their accomplishments during the academic year.

Among those honored was volleyball senior Bridget Tarantino who received the 2009 Fordham Kiwanis Community Service Award and sophomore Katie Wells, who was named the team MVP.

The Fordham Kiwanis is part of a worldwide service organization that is committed to improving the quality of life through volunteer action. The members of Fordham Kiwanis, comprised of university faculty, staff, and administrators, wish to recognize student-athletes who not only excel in academics and in their respective sports, but who are also committed to working in community service activities.

Tarantino is a four-year member of the women's volleyball team, who has been major part of Fordham's Global Outreach Program for the past three years, serving as an executive board member for the past two. She has helped with the midnight runs for global outreach, holding a clothing drive before every run. Tarantino has also organized a group of students which distributes food and clothing to the homeless in Manhattan. This semester, she has been a part of the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center's "Headstart Program", which works with three & four year old children, preparing them for kindergarten.

Wells, a sophomore middle hitter, was named Second Team All-Atlantic 10 this year, helping the Rams to their third straight A-10 tournament appearance. She finished as the team leader in hitting percentage, while being second in kills and blocks. Wells ranked fourth in the Atlantic 10 with an overall hitting percentage of .332, which rated as the fourth-best single season mark at Fordham. She also recorded 285 kills to go with 79 total blocks. In conference play, she hit .326 with 155 kills and 37 total blocks.