QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's Department of Athletics held its 12th annual Turkey Dinner of Thanks on Monday, November 19 in Marillac Terrace. The annual event honors all of the effort and work done by student-athletes at St. John's and in the local Queens community. The dinner also offers the ever-growing international student-athlete population a chance to experience a timeless American tradition. The Turkey Dinner, which acknowledges all that the student-athletes do on and off the field, is served by the coaches and administrators who wear chef's hats and aprons.

"The Turkey Dinner is a very special evening which brings the entire athletic department together as we spend time with each other and give thanks," said Director of Academic Support for Student-Athletes Eric Rienecker. "Our student-athletes have done over two-thousand hours of community service and events like this make sure that their efforts do not go unnoticed."

The evening began with a welcome address from Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President and softball team member, Bionka King and was followed by keynote speaker, Director of Athletics Chris Monasch. Monasch recognized members of the St. John's community for their diligent work, thanking staff, coaches, and student-athletes for a year-long effort and performance in community service. Presentations were also given by other SAAC members such as Vice President and men's basketball team forward Otoja Abit, secretary and volleyball member Elizabeth Austin, and baseball player Jeff Grantham. Austin and Grantham gave a special presentation recognizing the St. Nick's Men's Shelter run by the LaMota family and Nilda Rivera-Vargas for all of their work with Red Storm student-athletes.

St. John's student-athletes continue to do countless hours of community service and with the help of groups such as the St. Nick's Men's shelter, the Red Storm plan to do countless more.