Giving back to the community is an important part of being a student-athlete at the University of Evansville.  Once again this year, UE’s student-athletes really took that idea to heart, as Purple Aces’ student-athletes compiled over 2,816 hours of community service during the 2009-10 academic year.  It marks the second-straight year in which UE student-athletes have compiled over 2,500 hours of community service.

“We have always felt that the University of Evansville student-athlete volunteer activity is helpful in their personal development and has very positive benefits for our community,” said UE Director of Athletics John Stanley.  “There are a lot of demands on our student-athletes, which makes us all the more proud that they produce a growing amount of time to make Evansville and the Tri-State area a better place to live, while at the same time representing our University in an exemplary manner.”

UE student-athletes were busy this past year devoting their time in the community to such projects as the Greater Evansville Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, the United Way Day of Caring, Patchwork Central, Adopt-A-Family, and the Missouri Valley Conference’s Just Read program.  UE’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) also helped organize such projects as a Toys-for-Tots donation, local holiday bell ringing for the Salvation Army, and visits to local area schools.  UE’s teams also conducted various youth clinics and other projects to be actively involved in the Evansville community.

“The University of Evansville and the athletics department focus a lot of attention on community service, and they take a lot of pride in having student-athletes participate in the community,” said sophomore softball player Allison Aguilera.  “Each athletic team is encouraged to help out around the community, and as a board member of UE’s SAAC, it is my job to let the student-athletes know of upcoming service opportunities and help coordinate any of the upcoming events.”