SOUTH BEND, Ind. — While he has already announced he will return for a fifth season at Notre Dame, backstroker Jack Fitzpatrick’s senior year is ending on a high note.
This weekend, Notre Dame announced a sextuplet of student-athletes have been named this year’s winners of the ACC Top Six for Community Service. Fitzpatrick is among those on the list.
The Pittsburgh native’s work this season with the Pass It On program was crucial to children in the South Bend Community. Along with several other swimmers, Fitzpatrick taught swimming lessons — free of charge — to local middle schoolers at nearby Washington High School. The skills learned in the pool were not only great exercise but could end up being life-saving in a region with multiple bodies of water.
In addition to practicing swimming, the Irish swimmers preached leadership qualities that are useful across all sports and aspects of life. The sessions always ended with a fun, confidence-boosting activity for the sixth and seventh graders.
Pass It On was started by fellow senior swimmer Cason Wilburn, who earned the ACC Top 6 for Service Award last season.
Five additional Irish student-athletes earned the honor this year:
Julia Carr — Women’s Lacrosse
Catherine Coffey — Women’s Track & Field
Mitch Feren — Cheerleading
Aidan McIntyre — Women’s Rowing
Simran Moolchandaney — Women’s Fencing