his week our 1590 WAKR Female Student Athlete of the Week is Emily Andrassy, a senior basketball player from Stow-Munroe Falls High School.

Emily says she started playing basketball from an early age, and has enjoyed the game ever since.

“My parents are very athletic, but I’ve always been athletic and I enjoyed playing outside with my neighbors,” she said.

As a four-year letterwinner and two-time captain both junior and senior year, Emily said that even though she can motivate her teammates vocally, she mostly leads by example on the practice floor, and on game day.

"I probably lead more by example, but I try to be more vocal, but it’s all about coming to practice and working hard.”

 Her head coach Bob Podges had some great words for Andrassy and what she brings to the court.

"Emily is the heart and soul of our team," he said. "She's our best defender with an oustanding competive spirt."

The leadership qualities that she displays on the court also are on display off the court as Andrassy participates in the Freshman Mentorship program, something she takes a great deal of pride in.

Upon graduation in the spring, Emily plans on attending Kent State University.

Our next Male Student Athlete is Jackson Carlson, a senior basketball player from Stow High School.

He said he too fell in love with the game of basketball from an early age.

"My dad put a basketball in my hand since I before I can remember, and I’ve always been around the sport and loved it,” he said. 

As a two-sport athlete for Stow (basketball and baseball), Carlson says he enjoys being with his teammates and working with them towards a common goal.

Coach Dave Close, the longtime coach of the Bulldogs, said that Jackson has grown as a player and as a person.

"He is a young man who has worked very hard to improve as a player and as a junior, he did not receive a lot of playing time. But he rolled up his sleeves and worked hard 
the entire off-season to become a better and more well-rounded player," he said. 

He also works hard off the court as well to become a more well-rounded person as well.

"He too has volunteered at Open M and has volunteered in the summer helping to teach youngsters 
the game of basketball," Close said.

 Carlson plans on majoring in education when he attends college in the spring, He says helping youngsters is something he's really interested in.

"I always liked being around students and want to coach as well,” he explained.

We wish Emily and Jackson the best in all of their future endeavors. 

UPDATE: Akron Police say Calvin T. Hunter turned himself in Friday evening, and has been charged with felony theft in connection to the Monday, December 10th theft of roughly $1,000 worth of toys that were meant for the "Toys for Tots" campaign in Akron. 

The day of the theft, Hunter posed as a volunteer at the First Faith Development building on Easter Avenue, and walked away with the donated toys.

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Akron Police Detectives have signed a warrant for felony theft on Calvin T. Hunter (pictured), 46, of Akron. 

There is no last known address for Hunter, who police say signed up as a volunteer for the USMC "Toys for Tots" campaign at the First Faith Development - Toys for Tots building at 790 Easter Avenue on Monday. 

Throughout the day, Hunter was observed on surveillance camera taking more than $1,000 worth of toys out the back door and loading them into a vehicle. He left with them later Monday. 

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Akron Police are investigating a theft of about $5,000 worth of toys that were supposed to be donated to families in need for the annual Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign.

According to a press release from USMC Staff Sergeant Phillip Greer, the theives posed as volunteers and were taking higher end toys, bikes, and more out the back door of the First Faith Development Corporation building on Easter Avenue in Akron Monday night.

They were caught on surveillance video, but haven't been caught yet. Staff Sergeant Greer says that in spite of the loss, they still expect to meet the needs of the more than 15,000 children and families they serve every year.

Anyone with more information, meanwhile, is asked to call Akron Police.

See more details from the full press release below: 

[Akron, OH, December 11] – Last night, people who had volunteered to help count and sort toys collected by the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program stole approximately $5,000 worth of toys. The individuals in question were working to prepare toys for the less fortunate children of Akron. Instead, they began to move toys and bikes to the back door where they then began to remove them without permission. One of the persons managing the warehouse noticed some of the higher value toys missing and investigated. She caught the individuals in the act of removing the toys for their own gain. Those involved then ran off with the toys and bikes.

The loss of the toys will have an impact on the Toys for Tots program’s ability to help the children of Akron. With the program reaching 15,000 registered children, the volunteers are hard at work preparing requests. The Marines involved in the program are working hard to ensure that no child is left without a Christmas this year. The Toys for Tots Coordinator, Staff Sergeant Greer, is confident that his Marines will be able to meet the needs of the community and execute a successful Toys for Tots season for the citizens of Summit County.

The Toys for Tots program is the Marine Corps’ nonprofit agency to provide toys to less fortunate children in local communities across the United States.