The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Student-Athletes Break Impressive Community Service Goal
4/20/2015 12:00:00 AM
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) set a goal to serve 2000 hours in the Birmingham community this academic year. As final exams are winding down on campus, the Blazers exceeded their mark completing their 2,036th hour of service on Sunday.
"Last year our goal was 1000 hours and we made it but we felt like we were capable of so much more," said SAAC president Catherine Ragon. "The goal was very important to all of us and Justin (Mackey) and his staff really pushed us to understand the importance of serving others in our great city."
Since September, SAAC members have encouraged each other and their teams to get out in the Birmingham community and serve. Many of the hours have been a whole team going out to an event or helping an organization for a couple of hours. In other instances SAAC members join forces across teams to go out and help. In all, UAB student-athletes worked with fifty different organizations this year including Birmingham City Schools, Children's of Alabama, Lakeshore Foundation, The Birmingham Zoo, Ronald McDonald House, Birmingham Reads, Hands on Birmingham and Habitat for Humanity.
"Our student-athletes have achieved an incredible feat this year and we are very proud of their efforts," said assistant athletic director of student-athlete development, Justin Mackey. "From the first meeting of the year I told them that I was impressed with the 1000 hour mark last year but thought we were capable of so much more."
"We adopted the slogan `Reaching Higher' from day one and I believe that every UAB student-athlete bought into this in some way throughout this year."
The types of service throughout the semester varied from feeding the hungry to assisting with a home build for Habitat for Humanity. Student-athletes really embraced the opportunity to volunteer at Lakeshore Foundation, helping athletes with disabilities. A major focus of this group was on helping out schools in the Birmingham district. UAB student-athletes put in many hours reading with kids and helping out with career fair events at the schools.
The women's volleyball team led the community service charge with over 357 hours of service throughout the school year. "Community service is very important to our team," sophomore volleyball student-athlete Gabby Deshotel said. "We really enjoy going to Children's of Alabama for wagon washing and anything we can do to be around the little kids at school."
The UAB bowling team added 270 hours of community service, while softball chipped in 245 hours of help and women's basketball served 231 hours. In all, nine Blazers teams served over 100 hours this academic year.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account, @UABathletics. For more information on Blazer student-athletes academic and community involvement, follow @UABSAAC on Twitter and Instagram.
