TOWSON, Md. - As the Landmark Conference counts down to the start of the 2026-27 academic year, the Conference will revisit some of the best stories from its member institutions through the Landmark Rewind series.
Running August 3-14, Landmark Rewind will spotlight one Landmark institution each weekday by featuring two stories originally produced by that school's athletics department. From student-athlete features and championship moments to community impact and campus initiatives, the series gives fans another opportunity to discover the people and programs that make the Landmark Conference special before fall competition begins.
Student-athletes from 17 of Wilkes University's 24 athletic programs helped spread Christmas cheer to kids in need at Kistler Elementary School, an operation spearheaded by Wilkes women's soccer graduate student Amanda Lee.
Lee, a pharmacy student at Wilkes, started the gift drive in 2024, one of many projects she and Kistler Elementary Principal Corey Brenner worked on during her time at Wilkes. Lee and her women's soccer teammates helped revamp the school's playground, paint benches, read to students, and more.
With the support of her peers, Lee was able to deliver gifts to 200 kindergarten and autistic support students at the school in 2024. This year, the drive doubled its efforts from last year to bring gifts to 400 students in kindergarten, first grade, and autistic support.
The event also received gift donations from outside of Wilkes, with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins donating gifts to the cause. Gifts included toys, coloring books, children's books, and much more.
"I had an idea to grow the event even bigger, but I didn't think it would be this," Lee said of the turnout for this year's drive. "I want to thank all the teams that showed up, my coaches (John) McNichol, Coach Lilly (Cross), Coach Krista (Liotti), and Athletic Director Scott Musa for supporting this. I'm just so thankful that so many teams from Wilkes wanted to support this idea."
"We talk all the time about setting a standard and being leaders on our team, on our campus, and in the local community, and Amanda and our young women have really run with that," said McNichol. "Amanda has been the point person on this since we were placed here a couple of years ago for The Big Event, and each year we seem to do something different. To do the gift drive last year and see it grow this year, I do not doubt in my mind we're going to get even more teams involved next year."
"To see Amanda really take an idea and put in the time, energy, and effort in on her own, on top of being a member of the women's soccer team and our doctoral pharmacy program, it really speaks to the type of person she is and in turn the type of person that we have not only on our team but within our department as well," McNichol continued.
Brenner, a native of Wilkes-Barre, spoke about the impact that this event has had on his students.
"Christmas time for some of us is the time to give gifts, to enjoy family. Some of our families don't have that," Brenner said. "Without the support of Wilkes, this isn't possible. Coming from the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, I am one of them. I grew up without it. The impact and the ripple effect that this has on these kids, ultimately, this might be the only Christmas present they receive; it really takes me back. I'm so grateful for Amanda, Coach McNichol, and the Wilkes Athletic Department."