BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State student-athletes have always been active in community volunteer efforts, but they took it to a whole new level in 2017-18.
During the most recent academic year, the Mountaineers doubled their number of recorded community service hours compared to the previous year with over 4,500 hours.
Among App State's 18 varsity teams, Mountaineer student-athletes spent 4,576 hours in the community. Softball had the highest total number of hours with 733.5, and women's tennis was awarded the Mountaineer Moves Community Service Award at the 2017-18 APPPSY awards banquet by averaging more than 61 hours per student-athlete.
The largest community service project with student-athlete participation was Operation Christmas Child. Student-athletes packed shoeboxes with hygiene products, toys and other goodies to be sent across the globe for girls and boys in need with the help of Samaritan's Purse, a nonprofit headquartered in Boone. With 100 percent participation from its student-athletes, App State Athletics was able to donate 267 shoeboxes this year.
"I am extremely proud of the service hours that our student-athletes put in this year," Director of Student-Athlete Development
Pierre Banks said. "The fact that they were able to double their hours from a year ago is a testament to their investment in our community and their commitment to our core values."
During the week of April 9-13, the Student-Athlete Advisory Board partnered with the Sun Belt to promote mental health and break the stigma. Throughout the week, App State and other Sun Belt teams used the hashtag #StrongAintWrong on social media. Student-athletes, coaches and support staff wore the color green during competition to acknowledge the initiative. Members of App State SAAC also sold green wristbands in support of App State football alum Doug Middleton's Dream the Impossible Initiative, which supports mental health awareness.
Several teams greeted kids at local elementary schools throughout the year as part of Morning with the Mountaineers. Student-athletes helped direct traffic in the carpool lanes and gave high-fives to kids on their way to class.
Members of the App State football team visited hospital patients in Mobile, Ala., during the week of the Dollar General Bowl. They also volunteered for Week of the Young Child in April to promote the importance of education for young children in the High Country, and they are helping construct homes in the local community with Habitat for Humanity during the month of June.
Women's basketball volunteered at the Joy Prom, an event offered to local community members with special needs. They also spent time volunteering with the Hunger and Health Coalition in Boone.
Multiple teams helped with Boone Boo, an event hosted by the Jones House where kids in the High Country could trick-or-treat on King Street. Student-athletes passed out candy at the Jones House and at local businesses.
As a department, App State committed to being more involved with local charity organizations in 2017-18, extending and enhancing partnerships with the Hunger and Health Coalition, Western Youth Network and Operation Christmas Child, among others.
