On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., for an East Coast Conference doubleheader vs. the University of the District of Columbia, the Daemen College men’s and women’s basketball teams were given the opportunity to tour the National Mall and the White House.
“The White House visit was an incredible experience for our team,” said Mike MacDonald, head men’s basketball coach. “To be able to see inside of the most powerful building in the world is something our student-athletes will never forget. We are so thankful to former Wildcat Chris Moore for setting up this special day for our team. We appreciate Chris giving back to alma mater like this.”
Moore, a 2000 Daemen graduate who ranks 15th on Daemen’s all-time scoring list with 1,126 points, is employed by the U.S. Secret Service. He is also a former City of Buffalo firefighter and was an assistant on MacDonald’s coaching staff during his tenure at Medaille College.
“We had a great time visiting the Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian Museums, and the White House,” said Jenepher Banker, head women’s basketball coach. “We send a big thank you to Chris Moore for helping to make this day happen for our student-athletes.””
Enhancing the student-athlete experience through educational opportunities is a key bi-product of what student-athletes encounter while at Daemen, according to Director of Athletics Traci Murphy.
“We are centrally focused on providing the best experience possible for our Division II student-athletes,” said Murphy. “With many of our teams traveling to the New York City metro area and Washington, D.C. for East Coast Conference competitions, the opportunities for them to experience the history and culture of such places is something we embrace.”
Murphy added, “Many of the student-athletes on this most recent trip have never been afforded the chance to see the monuments and museums of the National Mall, let alone the White House. We are incredibly grateful for our coaches, alumni, and supporters who work behind the scenes to make trips like this possible.”