May 10, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
It started out as an uncertain idea, perhaps even a blind ambition. But that idea turned into a definite goal which recently became a reality for the Illinois State athletics department, as the Redbird student-athletes logged over 2,000 community service hours in a single academic year.
After hitting the 1,000-hour mark last semester, which is typically a goal for an entire year, student-athletes from each of Illinois State's 19 sports contributed to the final community service hour total of 2,338 hours.
Illinois State assistant athletics director for academics and life skills Jane Fulton recognized that the attitude among the student-athletes was different concerning community service.
"We served more than 1,000 hours in the fall," said Fulton. "We began to see the students want it and then they went out and took on more and more opportunities.
"And it was more than just a local effort," Fulton continued. "The Hurricane Katrina tragedy really rallied our student-athletes. We had people out collecting money and even sent some football players down to the devastated areas to assist."
Last week's community service projects helped the student-athletes achieve their goal. Student-athletes from various athletic teams participated in efforts on four separate days, logging an impressive 357.5 hours in a single week. Activities included Washington Elementary School's playground renovation project, the American Red Cross' Evening with the Stars, Oakdale Elementary School's carnival and Denny's Doughnut basketball clinic. In addition, all these projects were completed the week before final exams.
"The unique thing about our situation is that there is a wide array of activities our athletes can get involved in," said Fulton. "We have participated in everything from food drives, Just Read!, playground renovations and recesses. Everyone is able to find something they enjoy which helps them leave their mark and continue to grow."
Not only did the Illinois State student-athletes reach their goal, but this 2,338-hour total is a record for the athletics department. After the September 11 tragedy in 2001, Redbird student-athletes totaled 1700 hours in a single year.
"Our student-athletes really embrace the fact that they can be good role models and can also give back to the community that supports them," said Fulton. "They all hope to leave a positive mark on Bloomington-Normal while they are attending Illinois State."
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