Staten Island, NY - When Lisa Cermignano was introduced as head women's basketball coach at Wagner on April 12, 2012, it marked the beginning of an exciting, new era for the Seahawks, one that begins in earnest on Wed., Oct. 3, the first day that NCAA Division I teams can hold formal practice sessions.

A native of southern New Jersey, a Hall of Fame Player at George Washington, and later a highly-respected assistant at three high-profile institutions in George Washington, Vanderbilt and Illinois, Cermignano has juggled many different tasks since her arrival.  

In addition to assembling a coaching staff, adding recruits to the 2012-2013 roster, directing a series of on and off-campus camps, crisscrossing the nation in pursuit of future recruits, Cermignano arranged a variety of team-building programs throughout the summer. In addition to ensuring her players are reaching their full potential in the classroom and on the court, Cermignano also believes the Wagner head coach's responsibility includes familiarizing her student-athletes with Staten Island the surrounding environs.
 
The first team-building activity Cermignano had her team partake in was a scavenger hunt in Manhattan, an exercise where each Seahawk had to go figure out riddles and learn different parts of the big city. On another day, the Seahawks took a trip to Ellis Island where they soaked in the history surrounding a place that served as a gateway to America for millions of immigrants.After experiencing Ellis Island, the team members piled back onto the Ferry for the short trip to the Statue of Liberty – so they could experience the ultimate symbol of freedom and of the United States.
 
 “Basically what we were trying to do all summer was build relationships amongst our team. It was kind of a get to know each other type summer,” Cermignano said. “We were trying to do it off the court and being that we're in Staten Island I feel like there's so much that our kids need to be aware of that's either happened around us, or happened to us. There are many places and things that we need to gain an awareness of that are just in our backyard.”
                                         
Other team-bonding activities included a movie night held in the Spiro Center, a fun-filled few hours that also included an array of video and card games. Most recently, the Seahawks took part in a vigorous team run on the 1.7-mile South Beach Boardwalk.
 
While all of the activities and day trips had their purpose, none were as purposeful, powerful, or poignant as the day the Seahawks traveled, as a team, to the newly-opened 9/11 Memorial in downtown New York.
 
Wagner athletics has been intertwined with 9/11 activities and fundraisers for some time. Each year, a large group of Seahawk student-athletes participate in the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run/Walk with this year's event being held on Sunday. The Wagner women's water polo team has taken the lead in being a part of this special day since its inception and this year was no exception. Also participating in this year's event were members of the swim, dance and cheerleading teams as well as Seahawk distance runner and Staten Island native Daniel Zaccariello.
 
 “The kids were obviously very young when 9/11 happened, they were obviously aware of 9-11 but they hadn't been to the new memorial,” said Cermignano. “I think this is something you do with your team yearly. I really do.”
 
To help deepen the meaning of the experience, the Seahawks were tasked by the coaching staff with the assignment of researching individuals who sacrificed their own lives on 9-11while heroically saving the lives of others. Team members were divided into pairs and each pair researched a different hero. Once on site at the memorial, each tandem set out to find the name of the person they had researched.
 
The four individuals selected to be researched included:
 
Welles Crowther, a 24-year old equities trader from Nyack NY, who used his experience and training as a former volunteer fireman to save others on that fateful day. In 2006, the former lacrosse player at Boston College was posthumously named an honorary New York City firefighter by Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta.
 
Thomas Hannafin, a 36-year-old native of the Westerleigh section of Staten Island and a member of the  New York City Fire Department's Ladder Company 5 in Greenwich Village. Hannafin and his fellow firefighters from Company 5 were among the first responders. He was last seen on the 37th floor in Tower One. A former standout basketball player at the College of Staten Island, Hannafin, who left behind a wife and two children, was the brother-in-law of Wagner Hall of Fame women's basketball player Maureen “Moe” Hannafin.
 
Rick Rescorla, 62-year old director of security for the financial services firm Morgan Stanley in the World Trade Center implemented evacuation procedures that are credited with saving many lives day. He was a retired United States Army officer of British birth who served with distinction in Northern Rhodesia as a member of the Northern Rhodesia Police (NRP) and later as a soldier in the Vietnam War as a Second Lieutenant  in the United States Army. Rescoria left behind a wife and two children,
 
Stephen Siller, a 34-year old West Brighton resident, was a firefighter who had just finished the late shift at Squad 1, Park  Slope, Brooklyn, when his scanner told of the first plane hitting the Twin Towers.  Heimmediately  returned to Squad 1 to collect his gear, then took his final heroic steps to the World Trade Center. When Stephen drove his truck to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, it was already closed to traffic. With sixty pounds of gear strapped to his back, he ran through the tunnel, hoping to meet up with his company. Siller was among 10 squad members who died that day. He left behind a wife and five children.
 
 Below are comments from each of the Seahawks who experienced the 9/11 Memorial for the first time this summer.
 
Laura Amorosa, Junior, Kirkland, Quebec
“When 9/11 happened, I was in grade three and watched it on the news in Canada. When I went to Ground Zero, the traumatic events became more real and personal compared to watching it on the news. Ground Zero taught me that anything can happen at any given moment when you are least expecting it. My godfather actually had a meeting in the World Trade Center building on that day, and fortunately he was running very late for his appointment and missed the crash.”
 
Marie-Laurence Archambault, Senior, Montreal, Quebec
”It made me think about how I would react if it had happened to people around me at that time, and me understand the point of view of others better. There's no question that visiting the 9/11 Memorial was a very moving and powerful day, one that I will never forget.”
 
Stephanie Blais, Sherbrooke, Quebec
 “It was my first time at Ground Zero, it made me realize how big the events of the 9/11 were. I am from Canada and I was young when it happened, so I never realized how much these tragic events affected the United States before I visited with the team. The memorial site looked incredible and reminds us how lucky we are to be healthy and surrounded by our families. Alot of people lost someone special on that day. I was amazed by the stories of the heroes who saved many lives during these events. We have to enjoy our life as much as possible and live like today could be our last.”
 
Veronick Fournier, Montreal, Quebec
“Before I had the chance to go to the Ground Zero site, I didn't acquire the same importance to this site and event than most Americans did. Going on the site where everything happened and being given the name of a person that died in that tragic event with his story made me realize the importance and significance of this day. By going there and reading all the names of the people that lost their lives there gave me a better sense of this event and made me appreciate the heroic contribution made by so many people.”
 
Ebony Jennings, Monroe Township, NJ
“What I took from the 9/11 trip is that life is precious and short. You never know when your time is up so live everyday like it's your last and don't take anything for granted. It was a great experience and I really appreciate having the chance to go there and experience the memorial.”
 
Ugo Nwaigwe, Sophomore, Valley Stream, NY
“Going to the 9/11 Memorial was a special moment for me. I was in third grade when the twin towers collapsed and I was extremely confused about what had just happened. But as the years continued, I realized the significance of the devastating event and the impact it had on our country. Being 12 years older, our visit brought me to an eye level with the tragic event. It made me realize how important family is to everyone. You never know when one of your loved ones will go. Furthermore, visiting the 9/11 memorial with my team made us all more aware of how sacred our lives are and to cherish every moment we have together.”
 
Chanez Robinson, Senior, Newark, NJ
“I did not have a direct connection to anyone from the attack but it was truly an honor to go there and hear the stories of so many heroes who died while trying to save other people. I want to say thank you to the families and let them know that they have not been forgotten.”
 
Jacqui Thompson, Sophomore, Southampton, PA
“I really got a lot of our trip to the 9/11 Memorial. It put the whole situation into perspective and made it a more personal experience when we went down there knowing the background of someone who acted so heroically and bravely that day. It also makes me appreciate every day that I'm given.”
 
Melanie Williamson, Junior, Baltimore, MD
“After finding the name of the person we were assigned to, Robert, I remember looking at the other names and seeing the name Teresa and her unborn child. The trip really made me realize how short life can be and how unexpectedly it can be taken away from you.”