Off-Duty Assists: Student Athletes Honored

In sports, especially team sports, the ability to help those around you be better is a quality every athlete hopes to find in his or her teammates.
Four student athletes at Southern University however, weren’t satisfied with only being good teammates inside the lines, and have made it their purpose to do all that they can to help outside of the lines as well.
The Athletes For Hope recognize student-athletes that make a difference in their communities, and this year, four of Southern’s very own were honored as well for their work in the Baton Rouge community.
With the help of Kenya Warren-Hollins, senior volleyball player Paige Hall has participated in the AFH for three entire years as she has looked to give back to her community as a member of the Jaguar Nation.
“ I am very thankful. I love doing community service in the surrounding Baton Rouge area. [In many ways] I grew up learning to give back to my community,” said Hall on being honored by AFH.
While the entirety of the volleyball team would visit Progressive Elementary once a month when they first started the program, Hall made a point to try and visit the school every Friday.
Helping in physical education classes as well as school events, Hall made her mark on both the school and Warren-Hollins.
Taking home both Coach and Team of the Year Awards, Southern University’s soccer team has also proven to be pillars for the community in their own right.
In an interview with the The SWAC, Warren-Hollins mentioned just how much of an impression the baseball team has left on her and the Baton Rouge community.
“I love working with Southern Soccer they have the team dynamic,” said Warren-Hollins. “If there is an event, the whole team is showing up. They come out in numbers and full of energy.”
While the student-athletes were leaving a mark on their community however, the eyes at Southern University have taken notice of the good that student-athletes have been doing in the community as well.
“Not a lot of people have time to go out and try to be good out here in the community, so for student-athletes to be able to make time, it’s special,” said Joshua Williams, a therapeutic recreation major from Baton Rouge, Louisiana when asked his thoughts on the student-athletes being honored.