Sam Houston State student-athletes from several of the University’s sports teams gathered Saturday morning (April 26) to help unload an 18-wheeler truck from the Houston Food Bank.

The Bearkat athletes gathered at the Stewart Elementary parking lot to assist the Huntsville Junior Service League in their project to provide food for 1,500 Huntsville families. The gathering marked the second time this spring the Kats have assisted in the Food Bank Distribution.

Assisting with the Junior Service League project is one of many ways Sam Houston’s student-athletes give back to the community.

The parking lot was filled with volunteers to help with the unloading as well as families to pick up the food.

“The Junior Service League contacted us to seek help uploading the Food Bank truck and the athletes were excited to assist,” SHSU Associate Athletic Director for Student Services Chris Thompson said. “The kids found it especially rewarding to see the number of families who showed up to receive the food. Everyone was so appreciative. It was a great day.”

Source: http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/tomball/news/bearkats-and-the-houston-food-bank-bearkat-athletes-assist-in/article_7384c642-cd83-11e3-9bb0-001a4bcf887a.html

Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra University Department of Athletics was honored at the 30th Annual Hofstra Student Leadership Awards Ceremony on Wednesday with a pair of awards.

Each year the Hofstra Student Leadership Awards recognizes outstanding students, student organizations and members of the campus community who significantly contribute to the improvement of student life at Hofstra.

Athletics earned the Good Neighbor and Community Service Event of the Year Awards from the Department of Student Affairs, Student Leadership & Activities.

“We are thrilled that the outstanding work of our student-athletes continues to be recognized,” commented Hofstra Vice President and Director of Athletics Jeffrey A. Hathaway. “We ask our student-athletes to be the best they can be in the classroom, on the fields of play and in the community. To be acknowledged for their work in the community is something very special and we are quite proud of them and their involvement with the local community.”

The “Shake-A-Rake” program earned Athletics the Good Neighbor Award, while the “Reading with Pride” program allowed the department to take home the Community Service Event honor.

In November, Hofstra student-athletes took to the streets with rakes in hand, eager to assist community members clear the leaves from their properties.

The “Reading with Pride” endeavor is sponsored by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and a multitude of Hofstra student-athletes went to local elementary schools to read their favorite books to the children.

Candidates for the “Good Neighbor Award” are students who reside off-campus and develop relationships with their neighbors and strive to embody the P.R.I.D.E. principles in the community. They also live purposely by educating themselves and other students who live off-campus by demonstrating exemplary leadership, organization, and hospitality.

Candidates for the award of “Community Service Event of the Year” must link with a non-profit organization and create an event that fosters collaboration and shared giving, displays acts of compassion that serve as a role model to other campus organizations, and raises awareness for a cause that promotes action and reaction. The award is presented to students and clubs who collaborate with the Division of Student Affairs and reinforces humanitarian change in the midst of academia.

Source: http://www.gohofstra.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209478009&DB_OEM_ID=22200

SALT LAKE CITY — If it wasn’t for his football coach’s commitment to doing more than winning football games with his young athletes, Connor Haller said he probably wouldn’t care about helping other people as much as he does.

“I don’t know if I’d have a desire to do it like I do,” the Olympus senior said of participating in service projects with his team, his school and on his own. “Almost every week, after we watched film, we would go help somewhere, like with Eagle Scout projects or something. That’s kind of where I developed my love for service.”

Some weeks, that was a tough sacrifice for a teenage football player still recovering from a brutal Friday night game.

“You always feel good after service,” Haller said. “You always feel like it was a good use of your time, even though sometimes you want a nap. The service makes you feel so great about yourself.”

Haller is among 13 senior football players who earned scholar-athlete awards from the Utah chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. The seniors apply for the award, which includes a crystal trophy, a ring donated by Jostens, and a $1,000 scholarship to the college of their choice. Earning awards for athletic accomplishment and/or academic achievement is nothing unusual.

But the critical component to the scholarships awarded by the group at the chapter’s 20th annual banquet Tuesday night at UVU is commitment to community service.

“It’s the most important aspect,” said board member and Corner Canyon athletic director Steve Park of balancing service with athletic skill and academic accolades. “Because I think that’s the true character of student-athletes. That aspect is really what shows what those kids are all about.”

It’s a priority that many high school coaches, teachers and administrators share. One of the service projects that Haller was involved in came from his participation in a service class, while another was a yearlong project undertaken by his entire school at the suggestion of their principal, Mark Manning.

Manning was at a national conference as part of his service for the Utah High School Activities Association’s executive committee when he learned about Samaritan’s Feet. It’s a program that raises money to buy shoes for financially disadvantaged schoolchildren. He suggested it to his student body officers and a group that Haller belongs to, the Be Strong Committee.

“Mr. Manning just talked about how we’re so lucky and fortunate to have this nice, new school, and he thought it would be a great way to show the community, and give back, that we really are appreciative and grateful,” Haller said. “There are kids in our own district (who) aren’t fortunate enough to have just the basics, like shoes. Our goal was to raise $8,000, which equals about 500 shoes, and give them to kids in our district.”

Manning said that while he made the suggestion, it was the students who ran with the idea. Dozens of students assumed responsibility and leadership for the fundraising efforts, which spanned December and January.

“It’s really critical for our students to participate in service,” Manning said. “It’s a great way for our students to appreciate what they have and reach out, in a very small way, and help others.”

The project will end on May 2 when about 75 students, who either provided leadership or donated at least $20, will deliver the shoes to an elementary school in the district. Officials have already asked the elementary students to provide their shoe sizes if they want shoes, and Manning said nearly every student in the school has expressed a desire to have a pair of shoes.

Read the entire story at: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865601518/High-school-football-Olympus-senior-1-of-13-honored-for-community-service.html

ST. LOUIS (KPLR) – Office staff with the St. Louis Rams and student athletes from Lindenwood University team up to paint bleachers at Roosevelt High School in south St. Louis Wednesday. 80 volunteers took part in painting the field bleachers, the press box and concession stand to prepare the athletic field for the south city side school’s upcoming football season.

Today’s volunteer day is part of the Rams monthly staff days for community service.

Since 2005, the Rams have provided financial assistance to improve the conditions of some St. Louis public schools football fields.

Watch the video at: http://kplr11.com/2014/04/23/rams-office-workers-and-lindenwood-athletes-volunteer-to-paint-bleachers/

More than 100 members of the Auburn athletics staff completed the sixth annual Tigers Give Back Day on Wednesday at seven different service locations in the Auburn/Opelika area, including head football coach Gus Malzahn playing a game of hurry-up, no-huddle Bingo with residents at Oak Park Retirement Home.

“The idea all started a few years ago when our student-athletes made a commitment to do more in community,” Director of Community Relations Latisha Durroh said. “(Athletic Director) Jay (Jacobs) wanted the department to help honor that commitment so we started the event for that purpose.

“As a staff, we get just as much out of it. We provide a lot of different options for staff members so that they can give back in different ways. We are glad to give back to the Auburn community that gives so much to us. Specifically, I know it meant the world for Coach Malzahn to come visit the residents at Oak Park.”

Members of the Auburn volleyball, equestrian and gymnastics coaching staffs spent Wednesday morning cleaning up the bike trail Chewacla State Park. Auburn staff members constructed the trail in 2012.

“As coaches, we strongly encourage our student-athletes to give back, and they do meet the challenge, so it is fun for the coaches and staff to be able to give back as a team,” equestrian head coach Greg Williams said. “It is a great program that I think all university groups would enjoy doing.”

Malzahn served as a Bingo caller for the second straight year, this time at Oak Park.

Several administrators as well as members of the Auburn compliance staff volunteered their time with Habitat for Humanity working on a new home in Opelika.

“We had a great group that did a ton to paint and help get this house ready,” Executive Director for Lee County Habitat for Humanity Mark Grantham said. “It’s a very important step as we finish this phase and continue progress on the house. They helped us as we get it ready for the future owners and the family was actually able to come out and meet the volunteers, so that was exciting.

“The owners were very appreciative and we really appreciate the athletic department and Auburn University for all the support they provide.”

Also, at least 30 staff members spent time both in the morning and afternoon at the Boykin Community Center with the Head Start program.

Members of the sports medicine staff retouched fences at Kiesel Park, while other staff members spent their mornings landscaping at Pine Hills Cemetery or volunteering their time at the United Way in the afternoon.

Source: http://www.oanow.com/sports/college/auburn/article_542b7164-cb45-11e3-a680-001a4bcf6878.html