Seemans Plays It Forward to Unlocke the Light on Suicide Prevention Month
Hunter Peters
NEWARK, Del. (Sept. 20, 2023) – September is Suicide Prevention Month. This September, the Sean Locke 24 Foundation was the recent beneficiary of additional financial resources thanks to a grant from University of Delaware senior volleyball student-athlete
Savannah Seemans and the Gatorade Play It Forward program.
The SL24: UnLocke the Light Foundation has three objectives:
- Educate high school and college students about the signs of depression, remove the stigma of depression, and make available resources to help people with depression and the real threat of suicide.
- Assist high school and college students with the transitions of life, helping them gain the tools to live life with mental illness and find the tools to cope with the many challenges that life brings.
- Create a safe haven where high school and college students receive professional help and speak to peers about their struggles with depression and the threat of suicide.
The UnLocke the Light Foundation was created in memory of former University of Delaware men’s basketball captain Sean Locke, who lost his battle with depression in 2018.
For Seemans, her connection to the foundation and Locke family runs deeper than their roots at the University of Delaware. “My family and the Locke family are very close. Mr. Locke was my first-ever basketball coach at the YMCA, so being able to give back to this family means a lot to me.” said the senior outside hitter.
Both Seemans and Locke are graduates of St. Mark’s High School in Newark, Delaware, before continuing their athletic and academic journeys as University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens.
Locke was the middle child of seven siblings. He graduated from St. Mark’s in 2012, two years ahead of Seemans’ older sister Claudia. Locke was the Vice President of Student Council, Homecoming King and a member of the Delaware state championship baseball team during his senior year of high school. He went on to play basketball at the University of Delaware, where he studied sports management. Locke helped the Blue Hens to the 2014 CAA Championship and was named a team captain as a senior.
A few years later, Seemans attended classes with Sean’s younger brother, Aiden, whilst at St. Mark’s. Seemans led St. Mark’s to the Delaware high school state championship match. She was a three-time All-State selection and a member of the National Honor Society. Her play on the court led Seemans to be named the 2019 Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year.
Fast forward to 2023, now a senior on the Delaware volleyball team, the honor that Seemans earned in high school would allow her to give back to the Locke family, who has given so much to their local community. As a Gatorade State Player of the Year, Seemans was eligible for the Gatorade Play It Forward program, which empowers student-athletes to provide grant assistance to a local or national sports organization of their choice.
“For me, being a student-athlete and having the opportunity that Gatorade gave me to give back to my community is very important. Gatorade sends out an email to all the past winners, and it says that you can do this if you want, but for me, I feel fortunate to be in this position. It allows me to show my appreciation to the people that have helped me, like Mr. Locke. Without him, I would not have loved sports as much as I do because he was a great first coach, and being able to give support back to him means a lot.” said Seemans.
Seemans’ eagerness to use her platform to impact others was no surprise to those around her. “It wasn’t a surprise that Sav decided to get involved with the Play It Forward Campaign for the SL24 Foundation. She is an extremely kind and empathetic person, constantly looking to help others. She’s the type of player any coach would want to coach and the type of teammate many want to compete with.” said Delaware head volleyball coach Kim Lambert.
Since 2019, the SL24: UnLocke the Light Foundation has raised over $1.6 million, which they have used to spread mental health awareness and provide resources for the local community. In addition, the foundation opened Sean’s House in Newark, Del, a residence on 136 Main Street that has become a local safe haven. The house run by the SL24: UnLocke the Light Foundation provides support tools and educational resources while organizing events to assist students and young adults through their mental health journey.
Seemans hopes that the grant will lead to more opportunities for the SL24 foundation to positively affect the Delaware community saying, “UnLocke the Light is looking forward to putting the money back into Sean’s House and being able to keep that resource going. They are looking to start a program for student-athletes to try and help them understand the resources they have available. I know that they will be able to put it towards something really good.”
Resources
UnLocke the Light Website:
https://www.unlockethelight.com/
Sean’s House Website:
https://seanshousesl24.com/
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
https://988lifeline.org/
American Counseling Association:
https://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/mental-health-resources/suicide-prevention
National Alliance on Mental Illlness:
https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Suicide-Prevention-Month
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