Anaheim, CA -- For outstanding service to the San Francisco community, Academy of Art University has been selected as one of two recipients of the 2011-12 Pacific West Conference Community Engagement Award. Sharing the honor along with Dixie State College of Utah, the Urban Knights worked diligently this past season to see an increase of more than 12 community service events compared to 2010-11. The announcement was made during the 2012 PacWest Conference meetings held May 28 - June 1 in Anaheim, CA.
“We are extremely proud of our Athletic Department for the commitment it made to the Bay Area community this year,” said Dr. Elisa Stephens, President of Academy of Art University. “In today's difficult economic times, we need to come together and support each other as a community, and we commend the student-athletes for taking the time out of their busy schedules to help others in need.”
The annual award recognizes outstanding community service and projects performed by a PacWest member's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). A panel reviews the nominations and chooses a winner. The universities will each receive a plaque commemorating their selection.
“Community service and engagement is a vital part of personal development and balance,” said Director of Athletics Dr. Jamie Williams. “To see our student-athletes embrace the opportunity to provide much-needed service and support to a variety of causes is beautiful. I salute the PacWest Conference for acknowledging the efforts of these young people, led by our SAAC Advisor and Assistant AD, Meghan Bushnell.”
Academy of Art University's goal for the 2011-12 season was for each of its 16 teams to complete three community service events throughout the year; one in season and two out of season. The Urban Knights took on the challenge valiantly and each team completed the desired amount. Participating in various types of service, ART U focused on themes of: Health Awareness, Community Improvement, and Youth Mentorship.
The year was highlighted by Academy of Art University's participation in events such as Project Open Hand where meals are provided to people living with serious illnesses in the San Francisco and Alameda counties, a SAAC Clothing Drive in which ART U donated over 600 items to Larkin Street Youth Services, and the Knights' involvement in the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program which distributed toys to underprivileged youth in the local community.
“We are incredibly honored to win the 2011-12 PacWest Community Engagement Award,” said Meghan Bushnell, SAAC Advisor and Assistant Athletic Director; External Relations & Student-Athlete Development. “One of our goals for this academic year was to increase our role as servant leaders to the San Francisco Bay Area community. This honor and accomplishment was a true team effort between the Urban Knights family; starting with the vision from the Administration and finishing with a valiant effort from our artist-athletes and coaching staff. As we continue to build our athletic program, our artist-athletes are determined to make a difference within the Bay Area, while our community is gaining inspiring relationships with the ART U Urban Knights. Art who? ART U!”
This marks the second time in the five-year history of the award that the honor has been shared. Notre Dame de Namur and Dixie State were co-recipients of the award in 2011 while Dominican University of California secured the honor in 2010. Prior to that, Dixie State was given the award in 2009 and Chaminade University of Honolulu captured the inaugural award in 2008.
HEALTH AWARENESS
The Urban Knights participated in multiple events to help increase Health Awareness of the various diseases and current illnesses that many San Franciscans face.
Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
Teams: Baseball, Women's Basketball, Men's Basketball, Volleyball, M & W Track & Field
• Academy of Art University started off the year participating in the American Diabetes Association: Step Out for Diabetes Walk in which the Urban Knights not only participated in the walk, but helped with registration, set up, and clean up and hosted a table educating the participants about their athletic program.
Kicking Cancer Kickball Tournament (American Cancer Society)
Teams: Baseball, M & W Basketball, Volleyball, Men's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Softball
• The ART U Softball team hosted a Kick it for Cancer Kickball Tournament which served as a bonding event for the Urban Knights. As our Athletic Department had a fun-filled day of kickball games at Mission Blue Field, and SAAC hosted a BBQ (profits there were donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation), Academy of Art University raised $3,400 to donate to the American Cancer Society with the tournament itself.
Project Open Hand
Team: Women's Soccer
• This spring, the ART U Women's Soccer team volunteered at Project Open Hand, a program that provides meals to people living with serious illnesses such as HIV/AIDS and to seniors in the San Francisco and Alameda County.
Swing for a Cause (With Hope, The Amber Craig Memorial Foundation)
Team: Softball
• The ART U Softball team hosted a memorable 3rd Annual Swing for a Cause game which raised awareness and support for the With Hope, the Amber Craig Memorial Foundation. In addition to the silent auction for their limited edition green jerseys which promoted awareness of teen depression and suicide, proceeds from concession sales, a 50/50 raffle, and flat donations all supported the cause.
2012 Let's Move Together: Arthritis Foundation Walk
Teams: M & W Basketball, Men's Soccer, Tennis, M & W Track & Field Volleyball
• The 2011-12 Urban Knights season ended with them participating in the Arthritis Walk where they helped out in a variety of capacities- setting up booth tables, registering participants, managing the Kid Zone and assisting in break down and clean up. The Knights were honored to volunteer at the 2012 Arthritis Walk as this was their second consecutive year participating and helping raise funds and awareness to find a cure for Arthritis.
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
Academy of Art University is located in the heart of downtown San Francisco so the artist-athletes were dedicated to understanding the value of community involvement and improvement.
SF Fleet Week (US Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, SFPD, SFFD)
Team: Softball
• The ART U Softball team participated in the 2012 Fleet Week for the second consecutive year, making it tradition to show their thanks and appreciation to the men and women of the National Services for their hard work and dedication. Members of the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the San Francisco Police and Fire Departments all came out join in a friendly slow-pitch softball tournament with the Urban Knights.
Habitat for Humanity
Team: Softball
• A few weeks later, the ART U softball team was back at it, this time helping on a completely different level. The team volunteered for Habitat for Humanity where they helped build a condominium complex in Daly City. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that provides houses to low-income families around the world that would otherwise not be able to afford to buy a house.
Field Clean Up at Oakland Tech High School
Team: Baseball
• This spring semester, the ART U Baseball team was across the Bay Bridge, diligently working on cleaning and improving the Oakland Tech High School baseball field. As Academy of Art Baseball is in the process of securing its own facility, the Urban Knights understand the importance of facility upkeep and maintenance.
YOUTH MENTORSHIP
One of the most popular community service events during the Urban Knights' campaign has been giving back to the youthful future leaders of their country. Each of the artist-athletes understands the importance of sharing their journey to become a collegiate athlete and has been involved with several community service endeavors which involve giving back to the youth and having an effect on many young lives.
Scaregrove Halloween Carnival (San Francisco Parks and Recreation)
Teams: Women's Soccer, M & W Track & Field
• The Men's & Women's Track and Field team and Women's Soccer team started the year off by volunteering at the third annual Scaregrove, a Halloween festival for kids and families in downtown San Francisco, hosted by the San Francisco Parks & Recreation Department. The Urban Knights participated in recycling efforts, hosted a meet and greet, and assisted with the festival's rides and activities.
San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program
Teams: M & W Golf, Women's Tennis, Women's Soccer, Volleyball
• In November, a new partnership between the San Francisco Firefighters Local 798 and the Academy of Art University was announced surrounding the Toy Program for this year. The Urban Knights joined many other Academy faculty and staff at “Santa's Workshop” (ART U Building) and donated their time to help collect, sort, and pack various toys and items to youngsters in every neighborhood across the city of San Francisco. In addition to helping individual families in need, the Toy Program serves many community organizations, including shelters for abused women and children, inner-city schools, neighborhood groups, children's cancer wards and pediatric AIDS units. The program also responds on a year-round basis to displaced children who become victims of fires, floods and other disasters.
Girls in Sports Winter Extravaganza
Teams: Women's Golf, Women's Tennis, Softball, Women's Soccer, Women's Basketball
• Academy of Art University Athletics, San Francisco Parks & Recreation, and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) celebrated National Women and Girls in Sports Day by teaming up for The Tasters Choice Girls in Sports Winter Extravaganza at Kezar Pavilion (home of ARTU Volleyball & Basketball). Female Urban Knights volunteered their Saturday to encourage girls (ages 5-12) to be active and healthy with their athletic disciplines as the focus. Our Urban Knights served as role models for the young girls to strive to become like them.
Softball Clinic with Keaukaha Sports Association
Team: Softball
• Even during a busy trip around the Hawaiian Islands, the Academy of Art University Softball team was still able to give back to the surrounding community by hosting a youth softball clinic with the Keaukaha Sports Association. The clinic featured approximately one participant to each ART U athlete with all young ladies coming from Keaukaha 10U Girls Softball coached by Coach Bobby. It was a general tutorial in which Academy of Art covered the basic fundamentals of infield, outfield, throwing, and running the bases. This was our first community service event that one of our teams completed on the road, which is a huge accomplishment and milestone for our Athletic Department.
Futures Elementary School (Oakland, CA)
Team: M & W Track
• Committed to making a difference in the lives of youth, the Academy of Art University Track & Field team visited a 5th grade class at Futures Elementary School in Oakland this spring. Each member of the ART U Track & Field introduced him or herself to the youngsters and described their own plans for after college. The class became empowered as they heard each artist-athletes' unique path from elementary to high school and to now Academy of Art University. Following the introductions, the Urban Knights broke off into smaller “buddy” groups where they paired with individual students and had time to conduct an interview survey of one another. Then, during the final classroom segment, athletes and their younger counterparts read books with one another. After the time indoors, recess was next. The group started off with some warm-ups before exchanging dance moves, playing basketball, kicking around a soccer ball, and getting into some double dutch with jump ropes.
Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative (BAWSI)
Team: Women's Soccer
• For the third consecutive year, the Urban Knights women's soccer team traveled to Mariana Castro Elementary School in Mountain View and partnered up with the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative (BAWSI) for a day of building up the next generation of female athletes in the Bay Area. BAWSI is a public benefit, nonprofit corporation with a mission to create programs and partnerships through which women athletes bring health, hope and wholeness to the community.
AJGA Spring Preview at Mira Vista Golf & Country Club
Team: M & W Golf
• As the ART U Golf season concluded, the Urban Knights volunteered at the 2012 American Junior Golf Association Preseason Junior Classic. In the event which included boys and girls ages 12-18, the ART U golfers were assigned responsibilities including timing the juniors, spotting them, and helping find balls that may have gone into the rough. The Urban Knights contributed to a successful event which brought together over 90 aspiring youngsters.
SAAC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
ART U Pep Rally
Teams: Volleyball, M & W Soccer, M & W Cross Country, M & W Basketball, Women's Tennis, M & W Track & Field, M & W Golf, Baseball, Softball
• SAAC set a new tradition within the ART U campus by hosting two Pep Rallies to provide pride, unity, inner campus support and an opportunity for the general student body to get to know Academy of Art University's artist-athletes. SAAC had a Winter Pep Rally, promoting the Men's & Women's Basketball season, and a Spring Pep Rally, introducing all of our spring sports. Each team was introduced by their head coach, then each artist-athlete introduced themselves with their name, major and hometown, in hopes of gaining a sense of community and approachability to the Pep Rally guests. The ART U Cheer & Dance Squad and Urban Funk Drumline also provided energy and entertainment. SAAC hosted a Make-A-Wish table where they sold Urban Knights T-shirts and had a raffle, in which all proceeds were donated to Make-A-Wish Foundation.
SAAC Clothing Drive (donations to Larkin Street Youth Services)
Teams: Volleyball, M & W Soccer, M & W Cross Country, M & W Basketball, Women's Tennis, M & W Track & Field, M & W Golf, Baseball, Softball
• SAAC initiated a new tradition within the ART U campus by hosting two Clothing Drives (Winter & Spring) to accomplish its mission statement of “creating relationships between student-athletes and the community by organizing community service efforts and raising funds for various causes.” The ART U campus donated over 600 items of clothing to Larkin Street Youth Services, a local youth shelter in San Francisco.
Playworks Junior Coach Leadership Conference
Teams: M & W Basketball, Women's Golf, Men's Track, Volleyball
• In a memorable event which united the young and dedicated minds of over 200 students from the surrounding Bay Area elementary schools, Academy of Art University hosted the Playworks San Francisco Junior Coach Leadership Conference this spring semester. The conference featured inspiring discussions on anti-bullying techniques, how to be a leader, public speaking, and teamwork with members of the Urban Knights' own Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Playworks, a national nonprofit organization that provides safe, healthy, inclusive play and physical activity to schools at recess and throughout the entire school day, welcomed fourth and fifth grade students from 26 elementary schools throughout San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo County, to develop their skills in leadership, conflict resolution and team work – with a specific focus on anti-bullying.
Penny Wars
Teams: Volleyball, M & W Soccer, M & W Cross Country, M & W Basketball, Women's Tennis, M & W Track & Field, M & W Golf, Baseball, Softball
• With a mission to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, SAAC hosted its first ever ART U Penny Wars. Each team created their own milk gallon to collect money and placed the gallons at the training room, a convenient and popular spot for the artist-athletes to congregate and donate. As no funds were raised last year, SAAC successfully collected $539.13 for the 2011-12 academic year. SAAC plans to continue this tradition and will increase efforts by ensuring Penny Wars milk gallons at every home game, inviting students and fans to participate and raise funds with the Urban Knights.
