WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – With every member of the program contributing to the goal of reaching the 500-hour mark, Purdue baseball logged 529.5 service hours in the community during the fall semester.
The program continued its emphasis on making an impact in the community, returning to the enhanced plan established in the summer and fall of 2019 since Greg Goff took over as head coach. At the annual final team dinner of the fall semester Friday at Bruno's Pizza, the coaching staff presented each player with a Nike Dri-FIT hooded shirt featuring the program's "Boilermaker Difference-Maker" theme across the chest, commemorating the continued commitment to the service efforts.
This semester's service events were headlined by...
• The Old Gold & Black Dinner at Alexander Field in September
• A Sept. 11 20th anniversary memorial appreciation visit to the Purdue Firehouse
• Walk to School Day at Glen Acres Elementary in October
• Community trick-or-treat as part of the Halloween Bash at Alexander Field
• Purdue University Dance Marathon event supporting Riley Hospital for Children in November
• Full team visit to the Lafayette Food Finders food bank in November
• Full team visit to Lafayette Transitional Housing Center (LTHC), feeding the homeless in December
Upperclassman like Jackson Smeltz, Tyler Powers, Kyle Wade and Troy Viola took prominent roles in representing the program in as many service events as possible. All 43 players logged over 10 hours this fall. Smeltz led the way with 18.5 hours.
"Led by the upperclassmen, our players really embraced the selflessness of the community service that we stressed again this school year," Goff said. "The hope remains that it provides our guys for a big-picture view of the impact they can have on the community, including their neighbors and Boilermaker fans of all ages."
The Boilermakers' Dec. 1 service day at the Lafayette Transitional Housing Center coincided with the same week as the program's Omaha Challenge strength and conditioning series. At the LTHC, the team served over 100 meals to the Lafayette-area homeless. The players and staff also helped package food items, prepared winter coats, cleaned facilities and provided wool winter hats for each person in need.
Goff and director of player development John Madia remain committed to keeping the program active in the community. They continue to work with Peyton Stovall and Paul Leaf from Purdue Athletics' office of student-athlete development to help identify new opportunities every year, specifically during the fall semester. Starting in February, college baseball teams play a 56-game regular-season schedule over the span of 14 weeks.
"Baseball has really set the standard for service activities in the Greater Lafayette community, especially during the fall semester," Stovall said. "The staff has been proactive is setting up service opportunities on both sides of the Wabash River and clearly the players have embraced the project."
Official team practice for the 2022 baseball season begins Friday, Jan. 28. Opening day of the new season is set for Friday, Feb. 18. The program is planning to host its First Pitch Dinner and Preseason Fan Fest over the first two weekends of February.
@PurdueBaseball Service Hours in the Community - Fall 2021 by PURDUE ATHLETICS on on Exposure
The program continued its emphasis on making an impact in the community, returning to the enhanced plan established in the summer and fall of 2019 since Greg Goff took over as head coach. At the annual final team dinner of the fall semester Friday at Bruno's Pizza, the coaching staff presented each player with a Nike Dri-FIT hooded shirt featuring the program's "Boilermaker Difference-Maker" theme across the chest, commemorating the continued commitment to the service efforts.
This semester's service events were headlined by...
• The Old Gold & Black Dinner at Alexander Field in September
• A Sept. 11 20th anniversary memorial appreciation visit to the Purdue Firehouse
• Walk to School Day at Glen Acres Elementary in October
• Community trick-or-treat as part of the Halloween Bash at Alexander Field
• Purdue University Dance Marathon event supporting Riley Hospital for Children in November
• Full team visit to the Lafayette Food Finders food bank in November
• Full team visit to Lafayette Transitional Housing Center (LTHC), feeding the homeless in December
Upperclassman like Jackson Smeltz, Tyler Powers, Kyle Wade and Troy Viola took prominent roles in representing the program in as many service events as possible. All 43 players logged over 10 hours this fall. Smeltz led the way with 18.5 hours.
"Led by the upperclassmen, our players really embraced the selflessness of the community service that we stressed again this school year," Goff said. "The hope remains that it provides our guys for a big-picture view of the impact they can have on the community, including their neighbors and Boilermaker fans of all ages."
The Boilermakers' Dec. 1 service day at the Lafayette Transitional Housing Center coincided with the same week as the program's Omaha Challenge strength and conditioning series. At the LTHC, the team served over 100 meals to the Lafayette-area homeless. The players and staff also helped package food items, prepared winter coats, cleaned facilities and provided wool winter hats for each person in need.
Goff and director of player development John Madia remain committed to keeping the program active in the community. They continue to work with Peyton Stovall and Paul Leaf from Purdue Athletics' office of student-athlete development to help identify new opportunities every year, specifically during the fall semester. Starting in February, college baseball teams play a 56-game regular-season schedule over the span of 14 weeks.
"Baseball has really set the standard for service activities in the Greater Lafayette community, especially during the fall semester," Stovall said. "The staff has been proactive is setting up service opportunities on both sides of the Wabash River and clearly the players have embraced the project."
Official team practice for the 2022 baseball season begins Friday, Jan. 28. Opening day of the new season is set for Friday, Feb. 18. The program is planning to host its First Pitch Dinner and Preseason Fan Fest over the first two weekends of February.
@PurdueBaseball Service Hours in the Community - Fall 2021 by PURDUE ATHLETICS on on Exposure