East Irondequoit grad Shrout receives SUNYAC Award of Valor

Related Media

Rosie Shrout head shot

POTSDAM, NY (05/17/2011)(readMedia)-- SUNY Potsdam senior Rosie Shrout was named a recipient of the State University of New York Athletic Conference Award of Valor, the conference announced at its annual Spring Awards Banquet on Monday, May 16.

On July 22, Shrout, a captain of the 2010-11 Bears swimming & diving team, underwent a procedure to extract bone marrow to donate to an 11-year-old girl with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She found out she was a match for the child after having her DNA collected at the Be The Match Registry drive held on the SUNY Potsdam campus in October 2009.

After being told in March 2010 that she was a potential match for the patient, Shrout had her blood drawn and tested. Finally in June, the student was informed that she was the donor of choice to help the girl.

Shrout, a native of Rochester, N.Y., said several of her current and former teammates, including fellow senior Kelley Walsh, were involved in the on-campus drive through their involvement with the Pre-Health Club.

"The team supported me so much, like a family," Shrout said. "(Coach) Ken (McLaughlin) talked to me all the time about it and supported me through it, and my teammates congratulated me and wanted to know all about the process."

McLaughlin wasn't surprised by Shrout's act of kindness, pointing out her strong all-around resume as a student-athlete and community member as well as her willingness to help people.

"Rosie is not your average person," McLaughlin said. "This wasn't a case of her doing just one thing ... this goes hand-in-hand with everything else she's doing."

Bone marrow transplants are a life-saving treatment for people with leukemia, lymphoma and many other diseases. After undergoing chemotherapy and radiation to destroy their diseased marrow, patients receive a donor's healthy blood-forming cells. In order for a patient's immune system to accept the healthy cells, he or she must have a donor who is a close genetic match.

Marrow donation is a surgical outpatient procedure. Shrout's procedure was performed at Strong Medical Hospital in Rochester. She received an anesthesia before a doctor used a needle to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of her pelvic bone.

"It was an in-and-out procedure," Shrout said. "They took marrow from two spots in my lower back. I woke up and was a little sore, but I didn't feel pain for long. It's definitely a good thing for college students to do as healthy, young, active people."

The Award of Valor, which began in 2002-03, is defined as given to those who overcome obstacles and serve as inspiration to others. The recipients used perseverance, dedication and determination to overcome a life-altering event.

Shrout, who was unable to attend the banquet due to her final exam schedule, is the first Potsdam student-athlete to earn the honor. She is a SUNY Potsdam Presidential Scholar and a SUNYAC All-Academic Team and Commissioner's List honoree.

For a complete list of SUNYAC Award of Valor winners, visit http://www.sunyac.com/sports/2010/11/19/GEN_1119101016.aspx?.

###