Latest news with #StBonaventure
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
St. Bonaventure professor announces congressional run for NY23 in 2026 election
OLEAN, N.Y. (WETM) — Another democratic candidate has announced his campaign to run against incumbent Congressman Nick Langworthy for New York's 23rd Congressional District. Aaron Gies, of Olean, a current assistant professor of Theology and Franciscan Studies at St. Bonaventure, and leader of a non-profit organization, announced his bid for Congress on Tuesday, July 15. Gies intends to challenge Nick Langworthy, emphasizing the need to elect leaders who listen to and lift up those they serve, according to his announcement. Candidate for New York's 23rd Congressional District makes stop at Harris Hill 'We're in an affordability crisis in New York State,' Gies said, 'The American Dream is out of reach for most people. A government that favors those at the top isn't just wrong because it's unfair, it's wrong because it doesn't work,' he said. 'This crisis can only be solved by all of us together. Rural folks know how to take care of themselves. They need their government to support them, not sell them out to elite interests,' Gies said in his announcement. Gies made claims in his announcement that Congressman Langworthy refuses to meet with his constituents, tariffs and high prices are ruining small businesses, while Langworthy rubber-stamps everything the Trump administration does, regardless of the issue. Gies pointed out that these are some of the key issues why he is running for Congress. Born in rural North Carolina, Gies now lives in Alleghany County and understands small-town life. He spends time as a bookkeeper and helps run a non-profit vegetable farm. Gies now joins Kevin Stocker in the democratic race running against Langworthy. 18 News reached out to Congressman Langworthy's office for a statement on Wednesday. Langworthy said he will not comment on any campaign matters at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
11-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Can schools like St. Bonaventure and FIU thrive in college athletics without the big bucks?
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — As schools prepare to begin sharing millions with their athletes, there is no avoiding the reality that if you're not a Power Four school, you're at a disadvantage. With major conferences running the show, St. Bonaventure and Florida International don't even have a seat at the table. FIU and St. Bonaventure aren't necessarily worried about a head-to-head fight over top players with deeper-pocketed schools. The priority has become survival and finding a balance between athletics ambition and financial sustainability. Adrian Wojnarowski spoke candidly about the challenges he faced during his inaugural season as the general manager of the St. Bonaventure men's basketball team. Solidifying a recruiting class that would improve the team and embrace the school culture was not easy. After July 1, when lucrative paychecks will pretty much become mandatory for blue-chip prospects, it's not going to get any easier. With some 2,000 undergraduate students, the Bonnies are outnumbered in resources and revenue when competing even against other Atlantic 10 teams like VCU, Dayton, and Saint Louis. Wojnarowski, ESPN's former lead NBA reporter, thinks he has identified a formula for locating the ideal prospect. To him, St. Bonaventure is a landing spot for international players adjusting to a new culture and college life, transfers who may have fallen short at a high major and need development, or those looking to move up to a mid-major. He admits the school upstate New York could be a pit stop on a player's journey. 'I want them to see that our environment, our coaching staff, our small school, especially for international players coming over, what I really try to sell is your adjustment to American college life,' he said at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and Affiliates Convention this week. 'I think for a lot of kids, it's easier in a school with 1,900 students than a school with 19,000. And you'll come to have two great years with us, and then you'll probably end up at schools with 19,000 or 29,000,' he said. 'And so you're selling, for us, we're your first step on the way to somewhere else, or the other one to me is we're the place to come when you've got to get the basketball right.' If the plan goes awry and a recruit slips away, one thing the former NBA insider refuses to do is blame the money. 'Fundraising is hard, creating new revenue streams is hard, but the one thing that I try to stay away from with us is not saying, 'Oh, we didn't get him because they offered more money,' and using that as a crutch all the time. I really examine when we lost a player,' Wojnarowski said. 'Are we being honest with ourselves in saying that we did everything outside the economics to make our case to this person?' FIU has more than 40,000 undergraduates, but the athletic department is using a similar philosophy, pinpointing advantages and opportunities to come from the settlement instead of the negatives. Similar to St. Bonaventure, FIU doesn't expect to come close to the $20.5 million revenue-sharing cap available over the next year. For a competitive edge, unlocking new revenue streams is fundamental. 'To compete, from a revenue standpoint, you have to think outside the box of your conventional fundraising and targeting donors,' senior associate athletic director Joseph Corey said. 'That's why you're looking at concerts being held at different venues, different festivals to generate extra revenue to bring in, different revenue streams, and not just fundraising going after the same donors. You've got to go beyond that in order to be able to compete.' Being based in Miami has its perks. Proximity to celebrities is one of them. In August, FIU secured a 10-year partnership with Pitbull, the singer and rapper who coins himself 'Mr. 305.' 'We did the partnership with Pitbull – Pitbull Stadium. He's on tour, but part of the deal was that he would be collaborating with us and doing events for us from a fundraising standpoint,' Corey said. 'You've got to think outside the box. Especially in a city like Miami, it's about the experience too.' Schools unlocking creative revenue streams is something that can be expected. FIU competes in Conference USA alongside teams like Liberty, Louisiana Tech, UTEP, Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State. The football team went 3-5 in 2024, finishing sixth in the conference. The men's basketball team finished last with a 3-15 conference record. It's hard to sell donors on losing teams. 'Let's call it what it is, FIU's not going to be able to keep up with the Alabama's of the world, the Georgia's, Michigan, or Texas, but what can we do? We can be the best in our conference. That is our goal,' Corey said. 'Let's be the best in our conference and really compete there because once you're at the top of your conference, that means more revenue in other areas. Everyone wants to donate to a winner.' ___ AP college sports:
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Burke signs NLI for Softball at St Bonaventure
JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – One Johnson City Wildcats has now signed to take her play to the next level and continue her softball career at St Bonaventure. Annabel Burke has officially signed her national letter of intent. Burke became a member of the varsity team in 9th grade. Her softball accomplishments include going to Sectionals in 8th and 9th grade, being named MVP of the varsity team, and receiving the Wildcat Award. In addition to softball, she is also a member of the girls varsity basketball and volleyball teams. She has tallied 115 strikeouts so far. 'As soon as I stepped on for my tour, I knew it was just such a great place,' said Burke. 'I know my roommate, I know a bunch of the girls on the team and it's just such a welcoming place.' Burke still has 1 season of softball left that starts in the Spring. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
