Skip to main site navigation Skip to main content

Thrive On: The Campaign for Utica University →

Utica University Logo
  • Academics
    • Programs
      • Utica at Florida
    • General Education
      • Current Offerings
      • Program Details
      • Themed Pathways
      • Planning Sheet
    • Honors Program
    • Utica at Florida
    • Online Study
    • Graduate Study
    • International Ed & Study Abroad
      • Study Abroad
    • Exceptional Faculty
    • Research & Experiential Learning
    • Student Support and Success
    • Schedules, Catalogs, and Resources
    • Institutes and Centers
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
    • Understanding Financial Aid
      • Value
      • Excelsior, Explained
      • University Scholarships
      • Endowed Scholarships
      • Annual Awards
      • Utica Enhanced Tuition Award
    • Applying For Financial Aid
    • Tuition and Fees
      • Tuition and Fees - Undergraduate Campus
      • Undergraduate Online Tuition and Fees
      • Florida Programs Tuition and Fees
      • ABSN Program Tuition
      • Graduate Tuition and Fees
    • Net Price Calculator
  • Admissions
    • First-Year Admissions
    • Transfer Admissions
      • Articulation Agreements
    • Florida Admissions
    • Graduate Admissions
    • International Applicants
      • International Inquiry Form
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Visit
      • Utica University Campus
      • Virtual Tour
    • Apply Now
    • Contact Us
    • Accepted Student Info
    • High School Counselors
    • High School Bridge Program
  • Community
    • Living on Campus
      • Student Living
      • Campus Engagement and Student Activities
      • Dining
      • Greek Life
      • Campus Safety
      • Utica University Campus
    • Satellite Locations
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • Bias Incident Reporting
      • Community Connections
      • DEI Collaborative
      • DEI Events
      • Dialogue on Race and Equity
      • LACRELA
      • Our Staff
      • Pronouns
      • DEI Reading Guides
      • Utica University Stance Statement
      • Wilcox Center
    • The Utica Area
      • Hotels and Restaurants in the Utica Area
    • Utica Stories
    • About Utica
  • Athletics
    • Intercollegiate Athletics
    • Esports
  • News & Events
  • Alumni
  • Giving
  • Apply Now
  • Directory
  • About
  • Library
  • Logins
  • COVID-19
Utica University

Utica University Football Team to Honor Firefighters in 5th Annual Believe Bowl

  1. Utica Community
  2. Utica Stories
  3. Utica University Football Team to Honor Firefighters in 5th Annual Believe Bowl
Floyd Fire Chief John Stark receives a jersey  as an honorary Pioneer Captain.

In the News
Story Topics
  • Athletics
  • On Campus
  • In the News

Kick-off for the annual game is set for this Saturday, September 3, 2022 at 7 p.m. where Utica will face the University of Rochester.

Jacob Phelps, son of the late Thomas Phelps, accepts an honorary jersey on behalf of his late father.

More than 3,500 people are killed by fires each year in the U.S. alone. Even more frightening are the aftereffects that these brave -- often volunteer -- firefighters face from toxic fumes while trying to save others. Firefighters have significantly higher rates of cancer than the general population, according to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.

The Utica University Football team will honor these courageous firefighters once again at their upcoming 5th annual Believe Bowl. On Thursday, September 1 in the Cynkus Family Welcome Center, Blaise Faggiano, Utica University Football Head Coach, along with University President Laura Casamento, introduced the honorary captains for the team’s upcoming game. Faggiano also presented these captains with Utica football jerseys.

This presentation will feature the recognition of two local firefighters as honorary Pioneer captains. Chief John Stark of the Floyd Fire Department has been serving for 35 years and was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in May of 2021. He received his first round of chemotherapy that July and continues to make trips to Westchester County for treatments. Stark is currently serving as Fire Chief in Floyd.

Firefighter Thomas Phelps was an active member of the Maynard Fire Department up until his recent passing on August 1. In May of this year, Phelps was diagnosed with an aggressive stage 4 cancer of his liver. Accepting his jersey posthumously was his son, Jacob, who followed his father’s footsteps as a Maynard firefighter.

Kick-off for the annual game is set for this Saturday, September 3, 2022 at 7 p.m. where Utica will face the University of Rochester. A select number of jerseys will be auctioned off with proceeds going to both the Believe 271 Foundation and the Thea Bowman House, an organization that provides quality care for underprivileged children in the local community.

The Believe 271 Foundation is an organization that aims to provide financial assistance to volunteer firefighters, EMTs and members of ladies' auxiliaries in Oneida and Herkimer Counties who suffer from life threatening illnesses, such as cancer.

 

by Leah Easton ‘24, PR Intern

More Stories

Sarah Keesom
Faculty

Social Work: Dr. Sarah Keesom, students, make surprising discoveries about social interaction and health

Whether or not you’ve ever contracted COVID-19, it’s likely the pandemic has had an impact on your health. The months...
Dr. Ariel Gratch
Faculty

Pandemic-Era Guidance: Professor Ariel Gratch

Throughout my years as a Utica student, I have changed my major twice and took many classes in different areas....
Photo composite of Jennifer Yanowitz and Arlene Lundquist
Faculty

Scholarly Support: Dr. Jennifer Yanowitz and Dr. Arlene Lundquist

The psychology department at Utica has an outstanding roster of professors that truly care about their students and are willing...
All Stories

I would like to see logins and resources for:

For a general list of frequently used logins, you can also visit our logins page.

Utica University Logo
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube
  • Academics
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
  • Admissions
  • Community
  • Athletics
1600 Burrstone Road, Utica, NY 13502
Map & Directions
(315) 792-3006
Contact Us
  • Institutional Effectiveness
  • Bookstore
  • Disability Learning Support
  • Student Right to Know
2022-2023 College of Distinction2022-2023 New York College of Distinction2022-2023 Business College of Distinction2022-2023 Education College of Distinction2022-2023 Nursing College of Distinction2022-2023 Career Development College of Distinction2022-2023 Equity & Inclusion College of Distinction2021-2022 Military Friendly School

US News Award for Social Mobility