For Arizona State student-athletes and staff, success and achievement is not confined to the playing field, or even the classroom. It extends to the community. Again this past academic year, Sun Devil Athletics performed at a championship level.
'Sun Devils Serve' is a program that provides student-athletes and staff with a coordinated pathway to connect with the community with the goal of shaping and affecting lives in a positive manner. For the fifth consecutive year, Sun Devils Serve, overseen by Associate Athletic Director Bill Kennedy, set records for projects, community members served and hours served. After recording an aggregate total of 7,046.25 hours in 2015-16, Sun Devil Athletics attained even greater heights in 2016-17 in combining for 7,403.25 hours. Over that time, SDA combined for 141 service projects (up from 138 last year) to serve more than 290,000 community members.
"We are so very proud of our student-athletes and staff for their commitment to give back to the community," Kennedy said. "The principal of Sun Devils Serve is something we want to ingrain within our entire Sun Devil family and we hope to do that by providing meaningful projects that can give back to a community provides us with so much support."
A single statistic remained unchanged from last year – percentage of teams and department staff involved in projects. That figure is 100%. Kennedy said a lot of the credit for that goes to vice president for university athletics Ray Anderson and the culture he has helped foster since arriving at ASU in early 2014.
"I think the consistent annual growth in community involvement is a testament to Ray Anderson's leadership," Kennedy explained. "He leads by example which in turn sets the tone for the rest of the department. Because of his support we are able to reach out to more people not only within the Phoenix metro area, but also in the surrounding cities and communities including the Native American communities."
In addition to Anderson's approach to community outreach, Kennedy said another factor for the continued rise in community involvement is the participation of other members of SDA, specifically the band, spirit squad and 942 Crew.
"We are a Sun Devil family," Kennedy said. "That means not only our staff and student-athletes, but also our band, spirit squad and the 942 Crew. They log a lot of service hours and are wonderful ambassadors for the athletic department."
Among the projects that Sun Devils Serve was involved in was the annual Fantasy Flight, where Sun Devil student-athletes joined over 100 underprivileged children for a special Christmas experience.
"Our student-athletes who are with the children out there get as much out of it and look forward to it as much as the children who go," Kennedy said. "It's a wonderful experience when you get to do and see that."
SDA once again visited cities throughout the state and also made a trip to Anaheim as part of the annual Sun Devil Caravan. In addition to the fan component, every Sun Devil Caravan stop includes a presentation of Sparky's Tour – an assembly in which student-athletes, staff, band and 942 Crew teach children the value of personal character and healthy living – and a community service project.
In addition to Fantasy Flight and the Sun Devil Caravan, there are several other events throughout the year in which student-athletes throughout SDA can be found giving back. Among them are the Healing Field Tribute in honor of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks and Pat's Run, the annual 4.2-mile race held every April in honor of former Sun Devil football player Pat Tillman.
As always, victory is the goal for any Sun Devil team. With Sun Devils Serve, the definition of victory takes on a far-ranging meaning.
"One of the things I continue to be impressed with is how much our student-athletes and staff want to give back and the wonderful job they do when they are at these service projects in terms of making it about the community members they are helping to serve and doing an absolutely phenomenal job with that," Kennedy said.
'Sun Devils Serve' is a program that provides student-athletes and staff with a coordinated pathway to connect with the community with the goal of shaping and affecting lives in a positive manner. For the fifth consecutive year, Sun Devils Serve, overseen by Associate Athletic Director Bill Kennedy, set records for projects, community members served and hours served. After recording an aggregate total of 7,046.25 hours in 2015-16, Sun Devil Athletics attained even greater heights in 2016-17 in combining for 7,403.25 hours. Over that time, SDA combined for 141 service projects (up from 138 last year) to serve more than 290,000 community members.
#SunDevilsServe ?? pic.twitter.com/zDdpgRo8MS
— Sun Devil Athletics (@TheSunDevils) May 18, 2017
"We are so very proud of our student-athletes and staff for their commitment to give back to the community," Kennedy said. "The principal of Sun Devils Serve is something we want to ingrain within our entire Sun Devil family and we hope to do that by providing meaningful projects that can give back to a community provides us with so much support."
A single statistic remained unchanged from last year – percentage of teams and department staff involved in projects. That figure is 100%. Kennedy said a lot of the credit for that goes to vice president for university athletics Ray Anderson and the culture he has helped foster since arriving at ASU in early 2014.
"I think the consistent annual growth in community involvement is a testament to Ray Anderson's leadership," Kennedy explained. "He leads by example which in turn sets the tone for the rest of the department. Because of his support we are able to reach out to more people not only within the Phoenix metro area, but also in the surrounding cities and communities including the Native American communities."
@SunDevilWLax working hard. ?? these ???????????? #dedication #SunDevil4Life #WeServe #CommunityService #nativeamericanheritagemonth pic.twitter.com/SxBWdX6J8E
— Courtney Connor (@CourtneyMConnor) November 5, 2016
Thanks to @CoachGrahamASU, ASU Players & Staff for donating items to the #BatonRougeFlood Victims #Service ???? pic.twitter.com/EPSWSWOnwC
— John Simon Jr. (@johnsimon31) August 27, 2016
In addition to Anderson's approach to community outreach, Kennedy said another factor for the continued rise in community involvement is the participation of other members of SDA, specifically the band, spirit squad and 942 Crew.
"We are a Sun Devil family," Kennedy said. "That means not only our staff and student-athletes, but also our band, spirit squad and the 942 Crew. They log a lot of service hours and are wonderful ambassadors for the athletic department."
Spent some time at @CathCharitiesLV serving the great community of Las Vegas!#SunDevilServe pic.twitter.com/X3sP4bL53p
— 942 Crew (@942Crew) March 7, 2017
Among the projects that Sun Devils Serve was involved in was the annual Fantasy Flight, where Sun Devil student-athletes joined over 100 underprivileged children for a special Christmas experience.
"Our student-athletes who are with the children out there get as much out of it and look forward to it as much as the children who go," Kennedy said. "It's a wonderful experience when you get to do and see that."
Sun Devil student-athletes and staff met at the annual #FantasyFlight event this morning #ForksUpFromTheNorthPole ?? https://t.co/qBvC4jXvgN pic.twitter.com/JI8bmaDabE
— Sun Devil Athletics (@TheSunDevils) December 2, 2016
SDA once again visited cities throughout the state and also made a trip to Anaheim as part of the annual Sun Devil Caravan. In addition to the fan component, every Sun Devil Caravan stop includes a presentation of Sparky's Tour – an assembly in which student-athletes, staff, band and 942 Crew teach children the value of personal character and healthy living – and a community service project.
In Anthem today! ?? #SunDevilCaravan pic.twitter.com/DhIBflkj6e
— Sun Devil Athletics (@TheSunDevils) May 16, 2017
Adriana & Kylie helped pack 800 boxes of food at Orange County Food Bank as part of Sun Devil Caravan's trip to Anaheim! #SunDevilsServe pic.twitter.com/iyM3U5fKAp
— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) May 23, 2017
In addition to Fantasy Flight and the Sun Devil Caravan, there are several other events throughout the year in which student-athletes throughout SDA can be found giving back. Among them are the Healing Field Tribute in honor of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks and Pat's Run, the annual 4.2-mile race held every April in honor of former Sun Devil football player Pat Tillman.
#SunDevilsServe: @SunDevilWLax Using 'Bonus Year' to Serve their Community #ForksUp https://t.co/aQ4y8GKRNQ
— Sun Devil Lacrosse (@SunDevilWLax) April 26, 2017
Proud Devils volunteering this morning for #PatsRun! pic.twitter.com/kjnTvO9Er9
— Sun Devil WBB (@SunDevilWBB) April 22, 2017
As always, victory is the goal for any Sun Devil team. With Sun Devils Serve, the definition of victory takes on a far-ranging meaning.
"One of the things I continue to be impressed with is how much our student-athletes and staff want to give back and the wonderful job they do when they are at these service projects in terms of making it about the community members they are helping to serve and doing an absolutely phenomenal job with that," Kennedy said.