VIU student wins national community service award

Curtis Vizza gives new meaning to the term ‘well-rounded.’

Vizza is a student, athlete, and volunteer who recently received national acclaim for outstanding community service.

A Vancouver Island University student and popular player with the Vancouver Island Raiders football team, Vizza received the 2009 Past Commissioners Community Service Award from the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL).

The award is given annually to an outstanding CJFL player who contributes in a significant way to his community.

The national accolade complements a provincial honour Vizza received in October when he won the Ron White Award, a BC Football Conference Community Service Award. He was in the running for the national award, competing against two other players.

“It’s fantastic,” said Vizza. “I feel humbled to be recognized in this way for doing something I love.”

Vizza will be the first player to earn his degree through the Vancouver Island Raiders Scholarship Program. He expects to graduate in June 2010 from VIU with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Sport, Health and Physical Education. He intends to enter VIU’s Education program to pursue a career as a teacher and administrator.

“I’ve wanted to be a teacher ever since I was in high school,” said Vizza. “Helping others and seeing their progress is rewarding. I absolutely love the VIU program, from learning about the body and leadership, to learning about myself. There has been a lot of opportunity to work in the community and make an impact.”

Curtis has made a tremendous contribution to VIU’s department of Sport, Health and Physical Education, said professor Rick Bevis.

“He has served as a teaching assistant in one of my courses and continually demonstrates a positive, dynamic outlook for all his fellow students to embrace.  He is engaged in the multi-disciplinary nature of our field, and deserves all of the accolades that he has recently received.”

Last month, Vizza was part of professor Guy Le Masurier’s class working with elementary school students at Fairview Community School in Nanaimo. “It was an awesome experience,” said Vizza. “I wore my Raiders jersey and taught a football lesson to kids. It was a great opportunity to put my classroom skills into practice and be a positive role model.”

Vizza is not only an outstanding offensive lineman for the Vancouver Island Raiders, but he’s been a consummate teammate and valuable contributor to his community. His junior career includes three national championships, four BCFC titles, two BCFC all-star selections, and an all-Canadian selection this year.

Vizza created Raider Day at the Boys and Girls Club of Nanaimo, where he and fellow teammates go to the club to play games and read to children, and encourage them to be active. He is also a volunteer coach for the Nanaimo Redman bantam football team, and helps out at elementary schools organizing events and sharing his experiences with young players.

A fully certified personal trainer and group trainer, this summer Vizza co-organized a Boot Camp for Breast Cancer in which all funds raised were donated to breast cancer research.

When his playing career ends, Vizza wants to continue to be an integral part of the Vancouver Island Raiders and plans to organize volunteer events for the team.

“I feel that every junior player needs to volunteer, not to satisfy the needs of the team but to better their community and have a positive impact,” he said. “Junior football players are a special breed. The more we can share with those around us the better everyone can become.”