LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Athletics remains on top, finishing in first place yet again in the annual America East Conference Food Frenzy competition. This year, the River Hawks were able to collect and donate 10,376 food items throughout the Middlesex County region. 

"Being a part of the Food Frenzy competition for the past four years, it's really amazing to see the persistent effort among our athletic department to give back to our community," explained senior Jen Slanovec, a member of the River Hawk softball team, which won the UMass Lowell Athletics internal Food Frenzy competition among its teams. 

Taking its sixth consecutive win in the America East Food Frenzy, UMass Lowell surpassed its fellow conference mates by a 3,500-item margin this year. The collection in 2024 helped benefit several organizations local to the UMass Lowell campus, including UML Strive, Catie's Closet and the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. 

"The commitment our student-athletes, coaches and staff have to supporting the community is impressive," said Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Excellence Alison Quandt Westgate. "With a healthy dose of competition, we are supporting the community that does so much to support us." 

For the last decade, the America East Food Frenzy has been a great way to bring the league's institutions together to help those in need across all the regions that fall within its footprint. 

"This initiative allows us to provide assistance for those struggling with food insecurity both on campus and in the community," added Slanovec. "By utilizing our inherent competitive nature as student-athletes, Food Frenzy has driven us to collect thousands of food and personal care items each year, truly making a difference. Giving back to our community filled with unwavering support towards the athletic department is something that means a lot to all of us and is one of our main motivators year after year." 

The River Hawks have raised 60,000+ items since 2018. The idea for the America East Food Frenzy competition was originally generated by Toni Onikeku, a former member of the UMass Lowell men's track & field program and student-athlete advisory committee, who tragically lost his life in a drowning accident in 2018. The River Hawks carry on his legacy by dedicating their time and efforts to the initiative yearly, just as he did.

"Toni was a special person who always cared more about others than himself," expressed Gary Gardner, Head Coach of the Cross Country/Track & Field teams. "He truly created a legacy."