HAMILTON – This weekend, the Colgate University Women’s Hockey team will dedicate a pair of home games to its annual community service project, all in an effort to raise autism awareness and to benefit Autism Speaks, the Family Resource Network, the Kelberman Center and Project Oz.

The team’s inspiration? Norwich High School junior and Colgate Women’s Hockey Team Manager Kati Williams.

Kati, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 2005, has been an avid fan of the team for approximately five years, according to her mother Jacki. In the past two years, the local student has performed as a team manager for Colgate Women’s Hockey.

Asperger’s Syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction – in addition to restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior – which differs from other forms of autism in that linguistic and cognitive development are relatively unaffected.

“Kati and her family have become a special part of our team and someone that we all look up to for her courage,” stated Colgate University Assistant Athletic Director Shaun Richards. “We all have seen her progress thanks to the great people at Norwich High School and the Family Resource Network.”