WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Over 40 members of Purdue baseball completed at least 10 hours of community service during the fall semester as part of the program's increased emphasis in that aspect of the student-athlete experience.
As a team, the Boilermakers logged over 450 hours of community service during the first half of the 2019-20 school year. At the annual final team dinner of the fall semester Monday at Bruno's Pizza, the coaching staff presented the players with long-sleeved shirts commemorating their selfless commitment to the augmented community service efforts.
In October, nearly the entire team spent an afternoon at the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. A month later, after completing the Omaha Challenge conditioning program with a 6 a.m. race through Ross-Ade Stadium and the Mollenkopf Athletic Center, more than half the team spent multiple hours at the Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette. The Boilermakers also volunteered at a local homeless shelter late in the semester.
The Purdue players had an opportunity to reach out to local residents of all ages. The Boilermakers once again contributed to the annual Walk to School Day at Glen Acres Elementary School in Lafayette. New this fall was a visit to Glasswater Creek assisted living, serving as the lunch guests for the facility's All-American Day during National Assisted Living Week.
Among the highlights of the fall was the inaugural Halloween Bash at Alexander Field, which featured free on-field trick-or-treating for children of all ages after the players entertained the large crowd in attendance with a costume scrimmage. The Boilermakers also participated in a Mentor Monday program and with a local glee club. Individually, selected Boilermakers volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of Lafayette, a senior health fair and the Purdue Mortar Board's annual Reading is Leading youth program at the Memorial Union.
This summer, first-year head coach Greg Goff and director of player development John Madia committed to making the program more active in the community going forward. They worked with Peyton Stovall and Cathy Wright-Eger to help identify more opportunities during the fall semester. Starting in February, college baseball teams play a 56-game regular-season schedule over the span of 14 weeks.
"I think it's very important to give our players an opportunity to give back to the community in as many ways as possible," Goff says. "The hope is it provides them with an appreciation for the blessings that come with being a student-athlete, and in turn helps them recognize the impact they can have on community members of all ages. Peyton, Cathy and John were all a big help in setting up the additional opportunities. But it was our guys that really embraced the selflessness of the community service."
Andrew Bohm, Milo Beam, Jackson Smeltz, Tyler Powers, Reece Rodabaugh and Grant Brunt completed the most community service hours this fall. They all contributed to six different outreach activities.
Official team practice for the 2020 baseball season begins Friday, Jan. 24. Opening day of the new season is set for Friday, Feb. 14. The program is planning to host its First Pitch Dinner in late January and Preseason Fan Fest in early February.
As a team, the Boilermakers logged over 450 hours of community service during the first half of the 2019-20 school year. At the annual final team dinner of the fall semester Monday at Bruno's Pizza, the coaching staff presented the players with long-sleeved shirts commemorating their selfless commitment to the augmented community service efforts.
In October, nearly the entire team spent an afternoon at the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. A month later, after completing the Omaha Challenge conditioning program with a 6 a.m. race through Ross-Ade Stadium and the Mollenkopf Athletic Center, more than half the team spent multiple hours at the Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette. The Boilermakers also volunteered at a local homeless shelter late in the semester.
The Purdue players had an opportunity to reach out to local residents of all ages. The Boilermakers once again contributed to the annual Walk to School Day at Glen Acres Elementary School in Lafayette. New this fall was a visit to Glasswater Creek assisted living, serving as the lunch guests for the facility's All-American Day during National Assisted Living Week.
Among the highlights of the fall was the inaugural Halloween Bash at Alexander Field, which featured free on-field trick-or-treating for children of all ages after the players entertained the large crowd in attendance with a costume scrimmage. The Boilermakers also participated in a Mentor Monday program and with a local glee club. Individually, selected Boilermakers volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of Lafayette, a senior health fair and the Purdue Mortar Board's annual Reading is Leading youth program at the Memorial Union.
This summer, first-year head coach Greg Goff and director of player development John Madia committed to making the program more active in the community going forward. They worked with Peyton Stovall and Cathy Wright-Eger to help identify more opportunities during the fall semester. Starting in February, college baseball teams play a 56-game regular-season schedule over the span of 14 weeks.
"I think it's very important to give our players an opportunity to give back to the community in as many ways as possible," Goff says. "The hope is it provides them with an appreciation for the blessings that come with being a student-athlete, and in turn helps them recognize the impact they can have on community members of all ages. Peyton, Cathy and John were all a big help in setting up the additional opportunities. But it was our guys that really embraced the selflessness of the community service."
Andrew Bohm, Milo Beam, Jackson Smeltz, Tyler Powers, Reece Rodabaugh and Grant Brunt completed the most community service hours this fall. They all contributed to six different outreach activities.
Official team practice for the 2020 baseball season begins Friday, Jan. 24. Opening day of the new season is set for Friday, Feb. 14. The program is planning to host its First Pitch Dinner in late January and Preseason Fan Fest in early February.
?? Our guys helped bring smiles to the faces of the residents at Glasswater Creek in Lafayette.
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) September 18, 2019
They were the featured lunch guests for All-American Day during National Assisted Living Week. Thanks for inviting us. #BoilerUp #NALW ?? pic.twitter.com/FlXDZHKyZ6
Spent the morning at Glen Acres Elementary reading to students as they walked to school. ??
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) October 2, 2019
#NationalWalkToSchoolDay pic.twitter.com/d75i0hGzgJ
Spent the afternoon at the @RileyCLZone with some amazing kids! ??#BoilerUp #FTK pic.twitter.com/Iolct0qmnO
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) October 24, 2019
Morning workouts ?? afternoon community service.
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) November 22, 2019
Helping @FoodFinders prepare for the holidays! #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/WrKlSr7Kk0
Spent some time volunteering at Lafayette Transitional Housing. Always great to give back before the holidays! #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/IFcCjs41ez
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) December 6, 2019