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CAP "Say NO to Drugs"
March
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Hofstra
University Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach Cherie
L. Hogg addresses the Pulaski Street School students after
the CAP Just Say No to Drugs march through downtown Riverhead.
Some members of Hofstra's women's team are pictured in blue
on the left next to the steps.
“I encourage you to live by these three
little Ps:
Purpose, Passion and
Pride.”
Hofstra Coach Cherie Hogg
Hofstra
University Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach Cherie
L. Hogg was this year’s guest of honor and keynote speaker
at Riverhead Community Awareness Program’s (CAP's)
Twentieth Annual Say NO To Drugs March on June 3, 2005. Hogg
has played professional basketball overseas in Holland, Germany,
the United Kingdom, Spain, and in her native Australia. She
helped lead Spain and the U. K. to championship titles.
While attending and playing for University of Nevada, Las
Vegas, Hogg played in the 1994 NCAA tournament and became
only the fourth Lady Rebel in school history to tally 100
assists and 100 steals in a single season. In addition, she
holds school records for steals in a season (129), three-point
percentage in a season (.456) and steals in a game (11). Hogg
has also coached youth basketball programs overseas and served
as a police officer in Australia for three years.
“We were very excited to have Ms. Hogg lead the Pulaski
Street School students at the march to proclaim their ‘drug-free’
message,” said Felicia Scocozza, executive director
of CAP. Scocozza noted that while serving as an Australian
police officer, Hogg presented a school-based smoking prevention
program similar to CAP’s prevention program. “Her
experience in this area, in addition to her achievements,
makes her a wonderful role-model.”
Since 1983 Riverhead Community Awareness Program, Inc. (CAP),
a not-for-profit agency, has been providing drug and alcohol
prevention education programs for the Riverhead Central School
District. Although CAP directly serves over 2,000 students
a year through its prevention and counseling programs, it
is best known for its two-year prevention program taught to
over 750 fifth and sixth graders in  the
Pulaski Street School by community volunteers and student
peer leaders. The program ended once again this year with
the annual Say NO To Drugs March in which students march from
Pulaski Street School down to Main Street wearing Drug Free
Body t-shirts.
Congressman Tim Bishop, Senator Kenneth LaValle, Assembly
Members Pat Acampora and Fred Thiele, and Legislators Michael
Carracciolo and Jay Schneiderman marched in the parade. Following
the Say NO To Drugs March, Riverhead Town Supervisor Phil
Cardinale (right) emceed a ceremony on the steps of Pulaski
Street School in which Coach Hogg addressed the students and
community.
Ms. Hogg told the Pulaski students about her basketball career
and her decision to say no to those things in her own life
that could have interfered with her dreams of playing basketball.
She also shared with them a story about an accident that she
was assigned to as a police officer that involved a drunk
driver and a young athlete who lost his life in the accident.
Finally, Coach Hogg presented the Pulaski students with her
motivational philosophy as an assistant coach at Hofstra University,
"I encourage my players to live by the three little Ps:
Purpose, Passion, and Pride. Have a dream and a purpose in
life," she counseled. "Pursue your interests with
passion, and make the kinds of choices that you can be proud
of."
After the ceremony, the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1742 once
again generously served a picnic lunch to all of the students.
Photo caption: Riverhead Town Supervisor Phil Cardinale joins
the Pulaski students in the CAP Just Say No to Drugs march
through downtown Riverhead.
Related
Link: CAP
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