News Release
Contact
Laurie E. Bick-Jensen
Director,
Public Relations
320 DuPont Highway
New Castle, DE
19720
(302) 295-1164
laurie.e.bick@wilmu.edu
Wilmington University Pi Gamma Mu Polar Bears' Annual Plunge for Delaware Special Olympics
Team marks 5th year anniversary as they braved frigid temperatures for record-setting donations.
On Sunday, February 1, 17 members of the Wilmington University chapter of Pi Gamma Mu once again "took the plunge" in Rehoboth Beach for the Special Olympics Delaware Annual Lewes Polar Bear Plunge.
This year, the Wilmington University/Pi Gamma Mu team ranked 18th out of a total of 294 teams. Their fundraising efforts were supported by 107 donors who helped to raise over $3600 for this worthy cause.
This year's overall donations to Special Olympics Delaware created a new event record for donations of over $780,000. More than 3,325 participants splashed into the Atlantic's icy, 37-degree water. The day was overcast with a temperature of only 37 degrees and many who took the plunge scrambled for the warmth of towels and blankets afterward.
This was Pi Gamma Mu's fifth year at the Polar Bear Plunge. Since their first plunge, the service organization has raised over $10,000 for Special Olympics Delaware. A number of Wilmington University alumni also joined in the plunge, including Stephanie Szczerba, Lauren Hale, Sarah Cebula and Sarah Young. Commemorative beach towels for the event were donated by Carole Pitcher, University Vice President, Administrative Affairs.
Wilmington University Rehoboth Beach site opened the doors and offered warm hospitality to this year's Polar Bears. In addition to allowing the Pi Gamma Mu and other team participants to change and get warm following the Plunge, the Rehoboth staff provided hot coffee, tea and hot chocolate to support the team and help them thaw out.
Pi Gamma Mu is an international honor society for eligible behavioral science, psychology, and organizational dynamics students. The mission of Pi Gamma Mu is to encourage and promote excellence in the social sciences and to uphold the ideals of scholarship and service.
For more information about Pi Gamma Mu at Wilmington University, contact advisor Johanna Bishop at 302-356-6759.
For more information about alumni chapters and programs, contact Stefanie Whitby via email at stefanie.a.whitby@wilmu.edu.
About Wilmington University
Wilmington University is a private, nonprofit institution committed to providing flexible, career-oriented, traditional and online associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. Ranked as the second fastest growing doctoral institution in America 2002 – 2012 by The Almanac of The Chronicle of Higher Education, affordable tuition, academic excellence and individualized attention are hallmarks of the University that enable greater student success in their chosen careers. For more information, contact Wilmington University at 302-356-INFO (4636), via email at infocenter@wilmu.edu, or visit our website: www.wilmu.edu.
