via UT press release   TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa has announced that women’s lacrosse student-athlete Megan Sanchez is the 2018 recipient of the Freddie Solomon Community Service Award, which has been presented annually since 2013. A three-year letterwinner for the University of Tampa women’s lacrosse program, Sanchez made an impact in the community while also being a standout student who earned her college degree in less than four years. Among her community outreach was nearly 300 volunteer hours at Tampa General Hospital. During these hours, she assisted with child life (opening the playroom, going to patients room), the rehabilitation center (working with traumatic brain injury patients and geriatrics), inpatient/acute rehab (pediatrics) and outpatient rehab (pediatrics). Sanchez was also an active volunteer with the Epilepsy Service Foundation. Her responsibilities included planning and running the Let’s Walk Together for Epilepsy Event, Tampa, as well as setting-up and cleaning-up for the event. She also volunteered at Select Physical Therapy, working closely with the physical therapist, cleaning the benches after each patient use, getting equipment, towels, hot packs, ice, water for patients and doing laundry. In addition to donating time to help others in the healthcare industry, Sanchez volunteered at two lacrosse camps. She has also participated in over 400 volunteer hours at Watergrass Elementary School, while also working with children with disabilities through the Special Olympics, Learning Your Function and Wildcat Wings Club. An alum and former NFL great, Freddie Solomon was also known as a man who devoted his time and efforts to giving back and serving his community. A former football player at UT, Solomon went on to enjoy a prosperous NFL career where he was a Super Bowl champion as a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers. Solomon was also a fixture in the Tampa Bay community, helping numerous charities and becoming involved with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. A plaque is displayed in the Martinez Center lobby recognizing the award, along with its namesake. There is also a plaque honoring the current recipient of the award.