The Hampden-Sydney community is deeply committed to selfless service and making a difference in the lives of others. By partnering with impactful organizations, members of the College live out its mission in powerful ways—sometimes even saving lives. Hampden-Sydney Football exemplified this commitment by hosting a bone marrow swab drive that earned them the Get in the Game Rookie of the Year Award from the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP).
According to the organization’s website, the NMDP is a “global nonprofit organization that helps save the lives of patients with blood cancers and disorders.” Through blood stem cell donations, patients are given a second chance at life. The Get in the Game program, founded by Andy Talley, former head football coach at Villanova University, was established in 2008 in collaboration with the NMDP and the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation. This impactful program taps into the power of college athletics through recruitment events and team-driven efforts to encourage students and student-athletes to join the NMDP Registry as potential donors, making a lasting impact on those in need.
“It’s incredibly important to involve our players and the Hampden-Sydney campus in events like this because lives are at stake,” says Head Football Coach Vince Luvara. “The NMDP highlighted the urgent need for matches, making this an incredible opportunity to make a difference.”
On April 10, 2024, the Hampden-Sydney football team joined forces with two NMDP representatives to set up the organization’s tent. Over the next five hours, the team worked in hour-long shifts, taking their own cheek swabs and actively recruiting fellow students passing by to join the registry. Their goal was to collect as many swabs as possible to maximize the chances of saving lives.
As students passed by the tent at the Pannill Commons entrance, team players would ask, “Would you like to save a life today?” This simple question sparked curiosity, drawing students in to learn how they could potentially be a match for someone in need of a donor. Once engaged, they were guided on how to properly swab their cheeks—a quick and easy process for a cause that could make a life-saving impact. In the end, over 200 new members were recruited to the NMDP Registry.
“It was great to see the success we had here,” Luvara says. “Needless to say, I’m proud of our team’s effort as well as the students’ eagerness and selflessness in getting involved.”
The event had a profound impact, with students honoring their commitment through remarkable acts of selflessness. In October 2024, Peyton Lambert ’27 was identified as a match for a 63-year-old leukemia patient and donated his stem cells, saving a life. Similarly, Owen Williams ’26 was identified as a match and intends to donate plasma in the near future—a true testament to his incredible and selfless character.
“We have fantastic students here at Hampden-Sydney who are selfless and leap at opportunities to help others in need,” says Assistant Football Coach Ryan Wilson. “Our players delivered in a big way when asked to help recruit their peers to the NMDP tent to get swabbed, and the team felt a personal responsibility to get as many people as possible involved. The numbers we were able to achieve are a testament to their commitment to this great cause and the tightly bonded brotherhood at Hampden-Sydney.”
In January, Hampden-Sydney Football staff traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, to attend the annual American Football Coaches Association Convention, where they were honored with the award. The recognition was presented by Krista Ross, their main point of contact at NMDP, and Andy Talley.
The dedication and selflessness demonstrated by Hampden-Sydney Football exemplify the values Hampden-Sydney strives to uphold. Through the efforts of individuals who step up and honor their commitment, more lives will be saved, and the College’s mission of forming good men and good citizens will be upheld.