Rochester, Mich. (Febt. 4, 2005) - When one thinks of Oakland University???s Golden Grizzlies, the thought usually conjures up images of bats and balls, basketball players streaking down the court, a swimmer making the final lunge for the wall or a runner giving that extra last bit of effort at the end of a race. But OU???s athletics program is more than just student-athletes competing in their various sports. Oakland???s 200+ student-athletes are also ambassadors for the university and one way in which they fulfill this role is through community service. Part of the mission statement for the department is that it will ???serve as a point of interest, entry and affiliation with the university for alumni and the general community.??? As a part of this the department gives back and adds to the quality of the local community through an active community service program. Despite taking a full class load, practicing 20 hours a week and competing in games, Oakland???s student-athletes do not hesitate when asked about a service project, giving about a 1,000 hours of time a year. Indeed, they are eager to give back to the community that helps support them; and that attitude is becoming more and more recognized in the OU community every day. Recently Oakland???s women???s basketball team put in hours at the Focus Hope Food Bank. And when the recent spate of hurricanes hit the state of Florida, Oakland???s volleyball team did not waste any time in answering the call. They collected money for the American Red Cross relief efforts at home volleyball matches. ???Student-athlete???s involvement in community service is an important part of the education we are providing???, says volleyball coach Dave Schmidlin. ???As a coach, I feel it is one of my responsibilities to help my players develop a sense of citizenship. To do this, I ask my players to come up with ideas for community service projects they want to participate in throughout the year. I believe taking this approach does a few things. First, it gives them the opportunity to get involved with something that is important and meaningful to them. Secondly, I think this involvement provides my player???s with a different perspective on life and let???s them appreciate the opportunities that have been afforded them, such as participating in collegiate athletics, or even having the opportunity to go to college in the first place. Finally, I think it helps plant the seed for continued involvement in their adult lives. As my players move on in life and become successful in the real world, it is my hope that they will continue to contribute their time and money to the communities in which they will live.??? ???We often talk to our players about being givers rather than takers in any given situation,??? added women???s basketball coach Eileen Hilliard. ???Community involvement is a great way for them to learn to look beyond themselves, and find a way to make things better around them. There are many life lessons to be learned in helping others. When Sherie MacGregor was organizing a walking club program at Brewster Elementary School in Rochester Hills, she called Oakland University swimming and diving coach Pete Hovland for help. For eight weeks beginning last October, student-athletes from OU???s men???s and women???s swimming and diving teams helped support the program by inspiring and motivating Brewster students to make walking part of their life. ???I called Pete because he was a former coach of mine in the Oakland Live Y???ers (a Rochester-based swim club),??? MacGregor said. ???The best thing about the Brewster Walks program was having guest walkers with the kids, including the OU swimmers. They helped us record the kids??? mileage as they walked around the track, cheered the kids on, walked with them and served as role models. They made the program fun. The younger kids were very interested in learning more about OU and the swim team. Rain or shine, the swimmers were there and were very dependable. We???d love to have them back when we resume the program this spring.??? The Brewster Walks program is just one of the many ways in which OU student-athletes are giving back to the community. Other examples of recent community service projects include: ??? In February, members of the softball team read to students at Webster Elementary School in Pontiac and socialized with seniors at nursing homes in Auburn Hills and Bloomfield Hills. In April, the team played games with mentally and physically impaired children. ??? Men???s and women???s cross country team members helped work the aid station at last October???s Detroit Free Press Marathon. ??? During last fall???s ???Make a Difference Day,??? members of OU???s baseball, softball, women???s basketball, and men???s and women???s golf teams participated in a campus cleanup event. ??? Student-athletes from OU???s baseball, dance, men???s soccer, and men???s and women???s basketball, golf and swimming and diving teams participated in last fall???s American Heart Association Metro Detroit American Heart Walk to raise funds to fight heart disease and stroke. ??? Members of the volleyball team have spent time on Saturday mornings packing lunches and sorting donated clothing for the poor and homeless at St. Leo???s Church and Soup Kitchen in Detroit. As much as the student-athletes enjoy helping others in the community, they also find volunteerism personally rewarding. ???All of the people at St. Leo???s are very grateful for our help,??? said junior elementary education major Heather Lippert, a volleyball team member. ???We usually get about 200 people at the soup kitchen on a Saturday. They thank us and are very happy to have a nice warm meal and clothes. It feels good to see people who have nothing or very little appreciate the things we often take for granted.??? OU???s athletics coaches also understand the importance of volunteerism, and encourage their student-athletes to contribute by becoming involved. ???It???s important that all of the OU athletics teams reach out to the community as much as possible,??? said softball coach Mike Tomlinson. ???We???re a community-based university with a lot of students who live in the surrounding community, so it???s important that we give back.??? ???Some of my players will have an opportunity to move on to professional baseball after they graduate, and volunteering provides a way for them to give to others who are less fortunate,??? said baseball coach Mark Avery. ???It also lets our players know how gifted and lucky they are. Several of our players worked with members of the basketball teams during the Special Olympics. They told me afterwards how much fun it was. They were excited and felt rewarded by giving back. Our Athletics Department goes out of its way to do a lot for the community. Hopefully we instill a trend in our student-athletes that will continue long after they graduate.???