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WILLISTON, Vt. – On Tuesday, the Vermont men's hockey team became the first NCAA team to join forces with Sweethearts & Heroes, the largest anti-bullying organization in the country. Led by sophomore forward Brady Shaw, the Catamounts participated in a dynamic anti-bullying presentation with sixth through eighth graders at Williston Central School.
 
Shaw was joined by junior Jonathan Turk, sophomores Mike Stenerson and Malcolm McKinney, and freshman Trey Phillips. The presentation delivered an important message to students about tolerance, awareness of bullying, and a plan to 'Jump into Action' in the face of bullying. Vermont Eye Laser sponsored the event, helping to raise awareness for the issue in the local community.
 
"It's a huge epidemic. Anytime you get a chance to come out and can tell them something that's going to help a kid not get bullied later on, it's an opportunity you jump at," said Shaw. "If there was something like this when I was in elementary school or middle school, it's crazy to think about the impact it has. I think it will have a lasting impact on me, my teammates, and also the kids here."
 
The presentation was led by Sweethearts & Heroes president and former Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Tom Murphy. It also featured inspirational comments from retired U.S. Army Sergeant Rick Yarosh, who was severely injured by an IED while serving in Iraq on Sep. 1, 2006. Yarosh was forced to have his right leg amputated below the knee and lost both of his ears, nose, and multiple fingers.
 
"A long time ago kids were afraid and I think some of them still might be," Yarosh said. "We are all different in some way, and that's a big goal of ours because it's a huge part of bullying. Bullies target people that are different, and in reality we are all different. I think everybody in the room leaves with something, they leave the room a better person in some way, and that's our goal."

The vast majority of students are aware that bullying occurs in their school, yet 96-percent of bullies get away with their actions without intervention. Over 3.2 million students are victims of bullying each year, and approximately 170,000 students skip school every day because of a fear of being bullied. Furthermore, an alarming 60-percent of students believe that kids who get bullied deserve it.

"We need young leaders to lead our youth, not just the athletes but all of our students," said Murphy. "If our athletes and role models are doing nothing to 'Jump into Action', why should the average kid? These young men from UVM have the superpowers to change the world, and on Tuesday they displayed their willingness to do things that other people are not willing to do."

Sweethearts & Heroes is a movement that is founded on the belief that, 'We do not have a bullying problem in America. What we have is a Sweetheart and Hero problem.' The goal of the organization is to help foster a school climate where kids refuse to let bullying happen. Peers intervene in bullying less than 10-percent of the time, but empathy and action significantly reduce the odds than an act of bullying is successful.

"I have been fortunate to experience a lot of community service events in my 21 years of coaching. I can say, with confidence, that the presentation on Tuesday was far and away the most impactful," said Vermont head coach Kevin Sneddon. "In the car ride back to campus, my players were talking about how they wished they had that in school growing up."

If your school or community is looking for an opportunity to not only change lives, but to save them as well, please visit the Sweethearts & Heroes website at www.sweetheartsandheroes.org.