Champions of Character Year in Review - St. Ambrose
The St. Ambrose University Athletic Department embraces the NAIA Champions of Character program through the St. Ambrose Leadership Academy. The Leadership Academy challenges our student-athletes to participate in a minimum of four community outreach experiences and attend four personal growth and leadership seminars.
St. Ambrose student-athletes volunteered more than 7000 community service hours in 2018-2019. Here are some examples of their service.
St. Ambrose Leadership Academy Personal Growth
Fighting Bee Athletic Orientation
Presentation by the Athletic Director outlining expectations and goals for the upcoming year. The Expectation Contract and NAIA Student-Athlete Pledge are discussed and signed by student-athletes.
Take Two: Sexual Assault Awareness Program
On September 7, St. Ambrose student-Athletes attended "Take Two - Sexual Assault Awareness and Bystander Intervention." This original play, written by SAU theater professor Dan Hale and performed by SAU Theater students, discusses the important issue of sexual violence and is followed immediately with a debriefing session.
"Walk a Mile In Her Shoes"
On April 25, male student-athletes and coaches joined men across the world and wear women's shoes, and walk a mile. This is a unique and fun-spirited way to educate the community about the serious issue of sexualized violence.
Jim Collins, Class of 1969
No stranger to St. Ambrose Athletics, Jim Collins spoke to the senior student-athletes at the annual Senior Thank-You Dinner. Jim talked about his time on campus when he was a student-athlete and encouraged the graduating seniors to become leaders in their community.
St. Ambrose Leadership Academy Athletic Department Community Service
Bee Haul
Returning student-athletes help incoming students move into campus housing.
Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive
Member of the Track & Field and Cross Country teams volunteered to help the Knights of Columbus raise money to help serve people with disabilities and Iowa Special Olympics.
Urban Plunge
More than 300 first-year student-athletes joined other incoming freshmen to volunteer for a day of giving back to the community.
Bee A Buddy Program
Individual student-athletes and teams volunteered hundreds of hours in local elementary schools. Projects included reading programs, after school programs, and mentor programs.
Camp Excel Leadership Academy
The Men's Basketball program volunteered at Camp Excel, whose mission is to motivate and engage kids ages 5-15 that will enable them to fulfill their individual potential. While the basketball team conducted a variety of sports clinics, it also taught sportsmanship, being a good teammate, and the importance of academic success.
Bee the Difference Day
Approximately 350 students and student-athletes volunteered to help their St. Ambrose neighbors in various clean-up projects around the Quad Cities.
Christmas Giving Program
In its 25th year, St. Ambrose student-athletes purchased, wrapped and delivered more than 800 Christmas gifts to local elementary children, Faith Baptist Church, The Salvation Army, and Project Renewal.
Project Renewal – Fit Fest
Project Renewal provides educational and recreational activities throughout the year in its after-school and summer park programs and serves as an educational training center for persons interested in learning about the root causes of poverty. Fit Fest is a fundraising event that helps fund Project Renewal activities that take place throughout the year. The SAU Soccer and Women's Basketball programs helped run the fitness activities and spent the day interacting with local elementary school children.
Real Men Read
Real Men Read is where SAU players and coaches volunteer to read to elementary school students to help show how "cool" reading is. Up With Families is an organization SAU student-athletes volunteered where they hang out and help with special needs children and their families.
Food Pantries
St. Ambrose student-athletes volunteered in local food pantries (Riverbend Food Pantry and Zion Lutheran Church Food Pantry) and served meals to the less fortunate at the Salvation Army of the Quad Cities and Café on Vine. The St. Ambrose Marching Band also continued operating a food pantry at Davenport North High School for high school students that needed food during after school programs.
Holiday Meal Delivery
Over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, the Men's Basketball Team helped St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Davenport package and deliver more than 300 meals to families in need.
Night to Shine
St. Ambrose student-athletes volunteered at the "Night to Shine" on February 8. Organized by the Tim Tebow Foundation, 537 churches from around the world came together to host Night To Shine and provided an unforgettable prom night experience for people with special needs ages 14 and older.
Teaming Up for Character Event
As part of the NAIA Competitive Cheer and Dance National Championships, St. Ambrose organized a Teaming Up for Character Event. A student-athlete from each cheer and dance program visited a local elementary school and participated in team-building activities.
Team Trips
- The Men's Soccer Team assisted several schools and churches in Puerto Rico that needed assistance from hurricanes over a preseason trip.
- The Men's Basketball Team hosted a youth basketball and leadership clinic and participated in a benefit charity game for a local hospice organization on the team's trip to Ireland.
- The Men's Lacrosse Team served meals at a homeless shelter in Lexington, Ky., as part of the team's spring break trip.