NORMAL, Ill. - The 2010-11 school year came to a close over the weekend, but Illinois State student-athletes proved they did a lot more than go to class and compete in athletic events. The Karin Bone Athletics Study Center staff announced that during the 2010-11 school year, Redbird student-athletes completed 3,400 hours of community service throughout the Bloomington-Normal area.
In many cases, ISU student-athletes are involved with elementary school programs, focusing on the initiatives that place an emphasis on reading like Just Read!, a program sponsored by State Farm and the Missouri Valley Conference. The student-athletes also go to local elementary schools during recess time to spend time with the children on the playground.
The Redbirds have also taken an active role in Habitat for Humanity building houses in the community as well as the Special Olympics Spring Games and Polar Plunge. Some student-athletes also helped at the Taste of Redbirds, which is held in Horton Field House in February, and with American Red Cross Evening with Stars.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), a group with representation from each team at ISU, has made community service a priority. The SAAC has encouraged each sport to adopt a favorite charity to serve on a regular basis.
The SAAC's encouragement has been paying off over the past two school years, as ISU student-athletes have completed over 3,000 hours of community service each year with over 3,600 community service hours completed during the 2009-10 school year, set an athletic department record.
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