SAN FRANCISCO – Continuing a tradition that dates back to 2010, the Academy of Art University Athletics Department volunteered at several events during the 2023 edition of San Francisco Fleet Week. Spanning the week of Oct. 2-8, Urban Knights from various teams combined to deliver more than 300 community service hours alongside naval and local service members in the City by the Bay.

"The student-athletes and athletic department at the Academy of Art University continue to expand our partnership with San Francisco Fleet Week," said Director of Athletics Brad Jones. "We are proud to collaborate annually with SF Fleet Week in supporting and providing key events for the youth of San Francisco and our visiting military service women and men."

Fleet Week Launch Party
Present to help kick off the festivities in the days leading up Fleet Week, leadership from the ART U Student-Athlete Advisory Committee took part in the Fleet Week Launch Party. Student-athletes were able to share an elegant evening in North Beach with service members and local dignitaries.

ART U Hoops With The Troops
For the third consecutive year, Academy of Art partnered with the U.S. Navy and Marines, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco, Police Athletic League of San Francisco, BSN and Nike, Professional Charter Services, and the San Francisco Rotary Club for its "ART U Hoops With The Troops" event. Set on the docking area of the USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26), the event saw its participation continue to elevate as inner city youth learned basketball fundamentals prior to touring the U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock ship later that evening.

"The third annual ART U Hoops With The Troops event had so much demand that we are working with the Navy and the Fleet Week Planning Committee to expand the event to two nights instead of just one evening," Jones said. "This will enable up to 200 San Francisco youth from youth organizations to participate in this event in the future."

2023 Softball Tournament
On Oct. 3, Academy of Art softball student-athletes laced up their cleats and donned their jerseys for what has become an annual fixture in the week's events: The Fleet Week Softball Tournament. Rotating around the Moscone Softball Fields, ART U's softball squad started by facing the Livermore/Pleasanton Fire Department Heat then took on the Navy Seals all while the teams had an opportunity to get to know one another and enjoy friendly games together. The day was capped by a dinner event that evening which brought together Academy of Art, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marines, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Olympic Club, as well as the SF Sheriff, Fire, and Police Departments.

Honor Our Fallen Concert
Those entering the Herbst Theatre inside the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center on Oct. 5 for the Honor Our Fallen Concert would have met ART U women's tennis student-athlete volunteers serving as ushers for a special performance by the United States Marine Corps 1st Marine Division Band. This year featured a poignant tribute to the service members who volunteered to defend their country and gave the ultimate sacrifice during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

Humanitarian Assistance Village
Academy of Art Athletics volunteers contributed to Fleet Week's Humanitarian Assistance Village which took place Oct. 6-8 at the Marina Green in San Francisco. An open-air exhibition which offered behind-the-scenes disaster planning exercises as well as military and civilian medical, rescue, and logistics teams included wide representation with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, U.S. Coast Guard, California National Guard, U.S. Army, American Red Cross, California Office of Emergency Services, San Francisco Department of Emergency Management, San Francisco Fire Department, and Veteran Service Organizations.