Service is one of the main pillars of the mission at Marquette University, and as such community service plays a major role in the Marquette student-athlete experience. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics’ goal for the 2016-17 school year is to reach a combined 3,000 hours of community service.
From this year’s start date of April 1, 2016, Marquette student-athletes have collectively surpassed this goal and completed a total of 3,651 community service hours over 56 different locations around Milwaukee. This is almost double the amount of hours from last year at this time and triple the number of locations.
Teams report their own community service in an effort to win the Magis Team Spirit Cup, an award given to one team for hours spent volunteering in the community, as well as academic performance, student-athlete development and showing support of fellow student-athletes in various ways.
As of Jan. 31, 2017, women’s lacrosse leads the way with 745.5 service hours, followed by women’s cross country with 517. Men’s soccer ranks third with 471 service hours, followed by women’s basketball with 397.5 and women’s track & field with 322.5.
Collectively, these five teams account for over 2,000 hours of service and 67 percent of the student-athlete total so far this year. Hours will continue to be tallied until April 1, 2017.
1. Women’s lacrosse – 745.5
2. Women’s cross country – 517
3. Men’s soccer – 471
4. Women’s basketball – 397.5
5. Women’s track & field – 322.5
In first place, women’s lacrosse has compiled its 745.5 service hours through events such as Briggs and Al’s Run for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Pancreatic Cancer Power of Purple 5k and PurpleLight Vigil. The team’s support of Pancreatic Cancer in particular will be furthered on April 22 as the team hosts Butler for its annual “PanCan” game.
Women’s cross country tallied its 517 service hours through a handful of events, including Campus Kitchens, Easter Seals Wisconsin Camp, Jewish Home and Care Center and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Easter Seals Wisconsin creates life-changing solutions for individuals with disabilities and their families.
Third-place men’s soccer notched 471 service hours through the Boys and Girls Club, Hunger Task Force and Fan Fest. Hunger Task Force is Milwaukee’s free and local food bank and anti-hunger advocate.
Women’s basketball participated in Play if Forward, AIDS Walk, Hunger Clean-Up and hosted a Girl Scout Clinic to compile its 397.5 service hours for fourth place. At the Girl Scout Clinic, the players ran eight different stations to teach basketball skills.
In fifth place, women’s track & field served its 322.5 hours of service at events such as Lung Force Walk, Make a Difference Day, Girls on the Run and Campus Kitchens. The Lung Force Walk raises awareness and funds for the American Lung Association and took place at the Milwaukee County Zoo.
Source: http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/sa-perf/spec-rel/020917aab.html
