Boise State’s Alex Guerrero and Lee Marks, Boston College’s Dan Berglund named MPC Computers Bowl Student Humanitarian Award winners 

	BOISE, Idaho, Dec. 26, 2005 – Boise State’s Alex Guerrero and Lee Marks along with Dan Berglund of Boston College received the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame’s annual Student Humanitarian Awards Monday night at the MPC Computers Bowl Beyond the Game Dinner.   As a part of the humanitarian heritage of the MPC Computers Bowl, student-athletes participating in the game who make extraordinary contributions to their community are selected by their teammates to receive the awards.    “What they’re doing is not easy.  It takes a special effort,” said ABC college football game analyst and former Auburn head coach Terry Bowden, who delivered the keynote address at the Beyond the Game Dinner presented by U.S. Bank. “The greatest gift in life is not the gift that we’ve been given but the gift of giving it away,” said Bowden to a sold-out Boise Centre on the Grove audience. “They’ve been given a special opportunity to give back.”   As leaders on the field, Guerrero, a senior defensive tackle from Brea, Calif. (Brea Olinda), was named to the 2005 WAC All-Conference First Team, while Marks, a senior running back out of Reseda, Calif. (Taft), was named to the 2005 WAC All-Conference Second Team.  Off the field, the two have put in at least 15 hours a week working with charities and youth throughout Idaho’s Treasure Valley.	Photo Courtesy:  Boston College
			Boston College linebacker Dan Berglund was selected by his teammates to receive the 2005 World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame's Student Humanitarian Award.  The award is presented annually to a member of each team competing in the MPC Computers Bowl. Berglund will earn a finance degree in three-and-a-half years at Boston College and is president of BC’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which represents more than 700 student-athletes in 31 varsity sports.

Most of Marks’ and Guerrero’s time has been spent working with the Optimist Clubs in Boise, Nampa and Meridian. Guerrero, a senior majoring in Communications, recently served as the keynote speaker at the Optimist’s Coaches Banquet, where he talked about the impact his coaches have made on his life and what they could do to help their athletes become better people.

“Community is a big part of the game of football,” said Guerrero, a four-year letter winner for the Broncos and native of the Dominican Republic.  “You go out in the community and do your part and the community comes to the stadium and supports you,” Guerrero said.  “Knowing that you can go out and make a difference feels good.”

Guerrero enjoys attending schools as a part of his community service.  This past year, during what was supposed to be less than a two hour visit to a Boise elementary school fundraiser, Guerrero stayed more than three hours to meet and greet fans.  The visit resulted in thousands of dollars being raised for the school.

After home football games, Marks and Guerrero head out to the street to meet with children who are being treated at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise and during last year’s National Student Athlete Day, over 200 kids attended clinics put on by the two.  This Christmas, the Boise Police Department hosted a party for kids who are on a waiting list for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, some of whom will be on the list for close to a year. Marks and Guerrero, along with other members of the Boise State football team, attended the Christmas party to play games with the kids and pass out presents.

“Giving back to the community makes all of the difference in the world,” said Marks, a senior Psychology major and four-year Bronco letter winner.  “When I was a kid, I remember all of the college players in Southern California who would take the time to sign autographs for me.  Being able to walk into a hospital and do the same is a great feeling.”

One of Marks’ favorite activities is visiting schools to talk to children about teamwork and being an individual. And at this year’s Make-A-Wish dinner in Boise, Marks and other volunteers served as waiters, competing to earn tip money that would be donated to the foundation.  

After coming to Boston College as a walk-on quarterback, Berglund, out of Shorewood, Minn. (Minnetonka) earned a scholarship as a valuable scout team member at linebacker.  On the field his awards include earning the Eagles’ Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year award. 

While on the way to completing his Finance degree in three-and-a-half years, Berglund has also taken time to give back on campus and in the community. He is a regular participant in various community services projects affiliate with BC athletics including organizing multiple visits for BC student-athletes to Children’s Hospital in Boston and spear-heading local food and clothing drives. 

“It’s an honor to receive this award,” said Berglund who serves as president of BC’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which represents more than 700 student-athletes in 31 varsity sports. “But at the same time a lot of guys on this team deserve to be recognized,” said Berglund. 

For his efforts in the community Berglund is an ACC Community Service Award recipient and his football teammates were voted the top community service team of 2004-05 at Boston College by student-athletes from all other sports teams.

The Beyond the Game Dinner, presented by U.S. Bank, is one of several featured events for teams and fans in the Boise community leading up to the Dec. 28 MPC Computers Bowl WAC – ACC match-up between Boise State University and Boston College. 

About The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame

The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame (www.sportshumanitarian.com), located on the Boise State University campus in Boise, Idaho, recognizes individuals and organizations from the world of amateur and professional athletics who, through their humanitarian efforts, distinguish themselves as role models in the community.

Since 1994 over thirty role models with world-class athletic ability and exceptional humanitarian achievements have been inducted to the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.  Each spring the induction ceremony includes recipients of an annual humanitarian awards program that recognizes community achievement in all corners of the sporting world through its President’s Award, Pro Team Community Award, Don Simplot Idaho Humanitarian Award, the Tradition of Excellence Award presented to a Heisman Trophy winner, and the Nell and John Wooden Humanitarian Lifetime Coaching Achievement Award.  Each year the Hall of Fame, in partnership with Boise’s MPC Computers Bowl, honors a player from each team with its Student Humanitarian Award.  The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is open weekdays to visitors and humanitarians of all ages.

-- www.sportshumanitarian.com –