By Kevin Nix & Patrick Schneider, Cronkite PR Lab
Sun Devil Athletics provides a multitude of resources to help student-athletes succeed in their respective sports. But, it’s also important to recognize the impact these student-athletes have in their communities and nurture their growth outside of sports.
On November 15, more than 75 ASU student-athletes and their supporters participated in an event with Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization dedicated to building homes for those in need. Each year, the NCAA promotes a community service project in the area where the NCAA convention will be taking place. This year, the convention is in Phoenix.
“At the end of September, we got an email from [the NCAA] inquiring about a partnership with them on a Habitat for Humanity build they were doing just a few minutes away from Tempe,” Bill Kennedy, Associate Athletic Director and manager of the Sun Devil Athletics Community Service program, said.
This event was an opportunity for student-athletes to engage in their community and grow beyond their sports. The goal is for the participants to realize how enriching giving back to their community can be.
“It's giving student-athletes those experiences that are rewarding, but also opportunities they can really enjoy doing,” Kennedy said.
Directly helping someone or a group of people, in this case, building a house for them, was a great way to make this happen.
“We want (student-athletes) to have that connection with people in the community. Not only are our student-athletes helping them, but the experience is also helping our student-athletes,” Kennedy said.
One student-athlete who participated in the event was ASU golfer Ryggs Johnston.
“We helped Habitat for Humanity workers who were already there building the houses,” Johnston said. “When I went, it was in the beginning stages of the house. We were putting up some of the framing of it, then by the end of the day, we ended up putting up the trusses which hold the ceiling together.”
“On the later build dates, the participants will be able to help more with the interior design.”
Sun Devil Athletics wanted as much representation at the event as possible to further emphasize the sense of community and collaboration.
“Our band was there and they played our fight song over the lunch program. We had our spirit squad there [too], so it definitely had a very collegiate feel to it,” Kennedy said.
The event was hands-on and gave participants the chance to work with heavy-duty tools.
“By the end of the day, they were using all kinds of saws and nail guns. I had to look the other way and hope it didn’t go poorly. But they were doing great,” Kennedy said. “One of the volunteers from the Habitat of Humanity side showed several of our lacrosse players what needed to be done, how to put [framing] together, how you get the walls up and secure them.”
“I think in the future I will do more, especially with Habitat for Humanity. It was a lot of fun. I enjoy that type of [work],” Johnston said.
By the end of the day, there were 31 student volunteers, 43 band and spirit squad participants, 15 volunteer leaders, and two future homeowners who participated on Nov. 15. ASU’s own mascot Sparky was there, too.
The event also garnered some local media attention on FOX10 News, providing an opportunity to share Habitat for Humanity’s message further in the community.
Building houses and participating in community service were beneficial to the student-athletes who participated, but at the end of the day, it’s all about helping the community.
“They thought actually building stuff was really cool,” Kennedy said. “Hearing them say they loved the experience and all that was fantastic. The Habitat for Humanity [event] was absolutely a win-win for everybody involved.”