Seattle University student-athletes welcomed children from the Rotary Boys & Girls Club on Wednesday, May 20, for the annual field day, this year taking place under clearing skies at Logan Field.
Over 40 student-athletes, all volunteering their time, interacted with the kids as they played kickball, tag, and leadership games, as well as running in relay races. Four of the children from the club were given MVP awards who displayed good sportsmanship, fun, and teamwork. The student-athletes represented the baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, cross country, men's soccer, women's soccer, softball, women's tennis, track & field, and volleyball teams.
Wednesday's activities were the culmination of another year of partnership between the Seattle University athletic department and the Rotary Boys & Girls Club, located on 19th and Alder. The field day was coordinated by Austen Powers, a senior on this year's men's basketball squad who has worked with the Rotary Boys & Girls Club throughout the past few months in arranging weekly events such as Tuesday All Boys Gyms and Wednesday All Girls Gyms. Seattle University student-athletes also collected donations for the holiday toy drive this past winter at the club.
"The partnership with Rotary Boys & Girls Club has been a very rewarding experience for both our student-athletes and the kids at the club. We truly have a shared mission with the club and focus on education, character, and leadership building, as well as athletics, with the kids," assistant athletic director Erin Engelhardt said.
The partnership with the Rotary Boys & Girls Club continues with the athletic department's mission of encouraging student-athletes to engage the greater community through meaningful service activity. Many SeattleU athletic teams go above and beyond the one required service project each year, including the volleyball team, which won the Team Mission Award at last week's athletics awards show after completing over 225 hours of community service.