Governors State: Champions of Character Review

UNIVERSITY PARK, IL—Governors State student-athletes and coaches engaged in several community service projects during the 2021-22 school year. In addition to helping local communities, the volunteer projects aligned with the NAIA Champions of Character program and its five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.

The GSU women's and men's basketball teams took part in a community project in Monee, assisting an elderly home owner with outdoor maintenance and cleaning. Team members spent several hours ranking and bagging leaves, trimming shrubs and cleaning gutters. The improvements drew the attention of a community member who said: "Wow! No words-speechless. Thanks to you and the teams."

Women's basketball players also collected clothing and goods to assist a teammate and her family who lost all their possessions in a house fire.

The women's and men's cross country team assisted with the 2nd Annual Jaguar 5K held during Homecoming Week. Team captains from both teams greeted the GSU community and offered support to runners during the Sunday morning event held on campus.

The men's soccer team participated in two mobile food market events that were hosted by the Second Place Church in Monee with support from the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Players and coaches spent five hours total unloading, sorting, packaging and distributing food to families in Monee and Beecher.

"It's always important to do community service, especially for our student-athletes who are learning under our programs that it is better to give," said Tonishea Mack, who oversees GSU's community service initiatives.