CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Islanders student-athletes were making waves on the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi campus and throughout the community during the fall 2019 semester. Efforts began when the Islanders gave incoming first-year students a warm welcome by helping with campus move-in. Students from several teams continued this spirit by assisting with First Wave, an experience to aid first-year students in their transition to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
At the beginning of September, Islanders hit the streets for Conquer the Coast, an annual cycling ride around Corpus Christi. Student-athletes helped the riders make it to the finish line by providing water and snacks at hydration stations throughout the course. Later in the month, several students assisted with the Suicide Awareness Ruck March on campus by making route signs and assisting in event setup and breakdown.
"We loved being able to give back to the community. Being involved with Conquer the Coast personally for four years now has been a lot of fun," said Kandace Johnson, senior softball student-athlete. "It is a time where families come together to get active and get outdoors, and I love being able to serve them water and make sure they have everything they need to have a successful ride."
October was a busy one for the Islanders as their outreach spanned across the city starting with Surftoberfest. Men's and women's basketball both helped at the event by sharing the message of conservation in support of the Texas Surf Museum. The teams later hosted a clinic downtown at the Islander Pavilion where children and their families enjoyed a day of fun and basketball. Men's and women's tennis spent time on the court as well through Tennis Success. The Islanders worked with students in the classroom and on the court to give them the skills they need to be successful.
Student-athletes from several teams, including soccer, softball, beach volleyball, men's and women's track & field and cross country, made visits to local schools in October for Red Ribbon Week. The Islanders spoke to students at Kaffie Middle School and St. Pius X Catholic School about the importance of making good choices and living a healthy lifestyle.
"When I heard there was an opportunity to visit my middle school (Kaffie) as a Division I student-athlete, there was no way I would miss it," said junior men's track and field jumper Sergio Alcorta. "I was once exactly where they were, and to be able to show them with hard work, dedication in the classroom and the formation of good habits at a young age, it's possible to do and be anything they want."
Halloween was full of spooky fun as baseball continued working with the Lexington Haunted House. The Islanders also provided alcohol and drug awareness education to their fellow students at the I-TEAM's Escape Room. Student-athletes capped off the festivities as they dressed up and took part in the Ronald McDonald House Halloween Celebration for the second consecutive year; playing games and handing out candy to the children in the house.
"Having the opportunity to hang out with the kids (at Ronald McDonald House) and make them smile brought me so much joy. It was a great experience," said Sydney Demski, freshman women's soccer student-athlete.
On campus efforts continued during November as the Islanders took part in Dance Marathon, which is a fundraiser to benefit children with pediatric cancer. The student-athletes had fun interacting with children and dancers at the inflatable station and playing giant Twister. Also, during November, a group of students placed flags along Ocean Drive as part of the Rotary Club's Flags for Heroes event, which recognized those individuals in our community who have made a difference in others' lives.
Despite the semester winding down, the student-athletes ramped up their outreach, first participating in the annual Paws on the Island event hosted by the University Counseling Center. The student-athletes helped their fellow Islanders relieve stress by playing games and doing arts and crafts. To cap off the semester, student-athletes from nearly every team lent their time to the Harbor Lights Festival, spreading joy and the holiday spirit to the Corpus Christi community.
"Being a part of something so wonderful like Harbor Lights makes it easy to serve the community," said Marissa Martinez, sophomore cross country and track and field student-athlete. "I feel that it is important to get involved so that we show the community we care and so we also have something to look forward to each year."
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee greatly contributed this fall as well through their work with the Coastal Bend Food Bank. Throughout the semester, student-athletes went to the food bank to inspect, sort and box food to be given to those in need. Members of the men's tennis, beach volleyball, women's track and field and women's volleyball teams also served as route guides and assisted with setup and breakdown at the food bank's big fall fundraiser, the Miles4Meals 5k.
"Working at the food bank was a great experience knowing that I was able to give back to the community we live in," said junior beach volleyball player Abby Devido. "Packing up boxes of food for kids to take home from school was one of my favorite things I did there. It was also great working with other volunteers toward a common cause."
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