BURLINGTON, Vt. – The University of Vermont field hockey program announced six-year-old and Essex Junction native Morgan Van Nostrand as an official member of the team Friday evening. Van Nostrand joins the Catamounts through Team IMPACT.
 
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Van Nostrand celebrated her draft day with the Catamounts in a ceremony facilitated by national non-profit Team IMPACT, who connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. Van Nostrand was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year.
 
Van Nostrand signed an official letter of intent during the ceremony alongside head coach Kate Pfeifer. "It has been wonderful getting to know Morgan and her family," Pfeifer said. "We are so grateful that she will be joining our team and greater UVM field hockey family. Morgan is such a joy to be around, and we hope we can return some of that joy to her. Thanks to Team IMPACT for making this connection possible!" As the newest addition to the team, Van Nostrand will attend practices and games with the Catamounts.
 
Since 2011, Team IMPACT has matched over 1,800 children with more than 600 colleges and universities in 48 states, reaching over 55,000 participating student-athletes. The child joins the athletic team and the student-athletes join the child's support team. Throughout the journey, the child gains strength, camaraderie and support while the student-athletes experience lessons of courage, resiliency and perspective they can't learn in a classroom.

Team IMPACT has more than 1,000 teams waiting to be matched with children, ages 5-16, who have been diagnosed with a serious or chronic illness and who could benefit from becoming a member of the team. For more information, visit www.goteamimpact.org.