AMHERST, N.Y. -- Senior women's volleyball player Maggie Burns (Louisville, Ky.) and senior women's basketball player Marina Maerkl (Binghamton, N.Y.) have been named Daemen University's Team IMPACT fellows for the 2022-23 school year, Daemen Director of Athletics Traci Murphy announced today.

Team IMPACT is a national non-profit connecting children facing serious illness and disability with a local collegiate athletic team, and after which the child, to the fullest extent, becomes an official member of the team by attending games, practices, and other team activities. 

"Maggie and Marina are two of our student-athlete leaders that have demonstrated an unrivaled passion when it comes to their support in the mission and promotion of Team IMPACT opportunities within Daemen Athletics," Daemen Athletic Director Traci Murphy said. "They are dedicated to planning year long events that will truly engage Team IMPACT participants to get more familiar and involved with our Wildcat athletics community and raising awareness about the organization."

"I am very honored to be in this position. Especially after attending the Team Impact Fellowship Summit in Boston this summer, I absolutely love this organization and what it is about from top to bottom. I am excited to see what Marina and I are able to do involving Team Impact at Daemen for the rest of this year, so we can continue to help grow this incredible organization," Maggie Burns said.

"Being a Team IMPACT fellow means acting as the 'feet on the ground' for the organization in the WNY area. I get the opportunity to meet and connect with individuals who share a common passion with me, that being sport and college athletics. I have the ability to meet amazing people with inspiring and unique stories. It's truly special how the sporting industry provides us with a platform to network, connect, and bond with others and learn from others through special organizations like Team IMPACT. I am truly grateful for this opportunity and excited to be a part of this growing and inspiring program," Marina Maerkl said. 

Daemen entered into a formal partnership with Team IMPACT in the summer of 2021, and as of the start of this school year, the men's and women's volleyball teams, the men's and women's basketball teams, men's soccer and the track & cross country teams all have a Team IMPACT child. 

Over the summer, Burns and Maerkl had the opportunity to attend the Team IMPACT Fellowship Summit where they became fully immersed in the organization. Bringing what they learned at the summit back to campus, the pair are spreading the good that Team IMPACT does back home at Daemen.

"The most fulfilling thing is definitely being able to show how amazing this organization is to others whether it's on campus, on social media, or in the community. This organization is amazing. All the kids are amazing, the other fellows I met at summit are amazing, and the staff is amazing and being able to brag about that is definitely the most fulfilling — being a part of growing an organization in which the mission and goals are something I wholeheartedly believe in," Burns said. "I think this organization has impacted my life because it gives me almost a daily reminder how lucky I am to simply just walk, how lucky I am to be able to even play volleyball especially at the high level I do. Every time I step out onto the court or even get out of bed in the morning, I try to remind myself to be grateful for that because there are kids and people out there who are not that fortunate."

"This organization has taken my life by a storm. Team IMPACT connects children with serious illness and/or disability with collegiate teams nationwide. What about that doesn't sound absolutely amazing?! It provides a mutual, life-changing experience for everyone involved: kiddos, families, teammates, coaches, athletics' staffs and list goes on-and-on," Maerkl said. "I enjoy making a positive impact on everyone's life whom I connect with, and this program helps me do that and more. Team IMPACT is something I have grown a true passion and love for, and I am beyond excited to continue to grow as a person, while positively influencing others!"

This upcoming weekend, the Daemen women's volleyball team is hosting its annual Team IMPACT appreciation game, where all six Team IMPACT children matched with Daemen athletics teams will be celebrated and introduced. Before the match, the kids will be involved in Daemen's warm ups, and they will be a part of the starting lineup introductions.

The Wildcats host Mercy on Saturday, October 8 at 1 PM at Lumsden Gymnasium.

Learn more about Team IMPACT at teamimpact.org.
 

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Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.