Athletes participate in community service competition

The Washburn athletic department is teaming up with the leadership department to get student-athletes more involved in the community.

Athletes tend to thrive in competitive atmospheres, so when Lisa Fahey proposed a community service competition between the varsity athletic teams, the rules were set in place. Each team will complete as much community service as they wish and report the information through the Washburn athletic web site. Fahey will keep track of each teams hours.

“I think this is a good opportunity for athletes to get out in the community that supports them and maybe even gain more support through the people they are helping,” said Fahey, a senior, who recently played her last season on the soccer team.

At the end of the spring season the hours will be added up and the team with the most hours will be declared the winner. And among the athletic teams, just being declared the winner and getting the bragging rights is enough.

“We’re all so competitive anyway and are in the environment a lot of the time, that to having bragging rights over another team, like the guys (basketball) team, would definitely be enough,” said Hope Gregory, a junior basketball player.

Fahey provided the teams with some ideas to use including reading at elementary schools, helping at the Boys and Girls Club and doing things for the Lets Help volunteer organization.