McArthur Makes SEC Community Service Team
Monday, May 19, 2008 | Baseball
Senior Brandon McArthur (Seffner, Fla.) was named to the 2008 SEC Baseball Community Service Team announced on Monday. The SEC sponsors Community Service Teams for all 20 league-sponsored sports. The Community Service Team looks to highlight an athlete from each school who gives back to his community in superior service efforts.
McArthur is a representative on Florida's Student-Athlete Committee (SAC) and is a frequent speaker at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes' meetings. He often visits the pediatric care unit at Shands Hospital and participates in wheel-chair basketball with Special Olympians. McArthur spoke at “Youth Quake,” an organization that provides alternative Christian entertainment that confronts issues relevant to today's teenagers and has given speeches at Gainesville middle schools about the importance of doing well in school. In addition, he is a member of the Big Brothers' organization.
The Gators' starting first baseman, McArthur is hitting .339 with 40 runs batted in, 10 doubles, four triples and a pair of homers. He spearheaded UF's offense to a third-place finish in the league with a team-high .362 clip and tied for second on the squad with 23 RBI. Last Thursday, McArthur snapped a 6-6 tie against No. 13 Vanderbilt with a two-run homer in the eighth inning that provided the winning margin and sent the Orange and Blue on its way to a three-game sweep of the Commodores.
The rest of the 2008 SEC Baseball Community Service Team follows:
Kent Matthes, Alabama
Matthes is one of the Crimson Tide's most accessible players and is constantly surrounded by children after each Alabama home game. He is a member of the Alabama Athletic Department's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a strong member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Matthes has been seen throughout the school year reading to children at local elementary schools. He read a book to the students at Taylorville Primary School on being responsible and working hard. He spoke at Faucett-Vestavia Elementary School during “Red Ribbon Week” about staying away from drugs and alcohol. Matthes also participated at “Team Spirit Day” at Sprayberry Education Center. He was also involved in the UA Athletic Department's Halloween Extravaganza, offering local children a safe place to celebrate Halloween. He was also a vital part of the UA's Project Angel Tree, which provides Christmas gifts to local children whose parents are incarcerated.
Ben Tschepikow, Arkansas
Member of the Book Hogs program and has been around to local elementary schools participating in reading programs...Has spent considerable time at his former elementary school (Happy Hollow), where he spent time in classrooms with former teachers...Former member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)....Participant in numerous Arkansas Athlete Outreach programs (AAO) including “Christmas for Champions,” where he played games with underprivileged area children.
Ryan Jenkins, Auburn
Has participated in the annual Home Run Derby for the Lee County Boys & Girls Club of Lee County for the past three years ... Has helped stock shelves at the East Alabama Food Pantry in past year ... Participated in the Canned Food and Clothing Drives.
Matt Olson, Georgia
Active in numerous projects, including Barrow Elementary Adopt-A-Family food program during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays...Visited patients at area hospitals...Habitat for Humanity participant, Helped conduct baseball skills clinics for area children... A three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and also SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll...Three-time member of the UGA Athletic Director's Honor Roll...Three-year starter for the eighth-ranked Bulldogs who lead the SEC at 31-16-1 overall and 17-6-1...A 2008 UGA graduate with a degree in Management.
Andrew Albers, Kentucky
Has been an active part of the community since arriving on campus as a freshman in 2005 … Earned the UK Athletics Character Award, as the student-athlete at Kentucky that exhibited an extraordinary commitment to excellence in academics, athletics, service to others and personal conduct … Has volunteered at several area elementary schools, promoting hard work, physical fitness, education and literacy … Also taught a postponing sexual involvement course at a local middle school … Assisted in events and supervised children at the Children's Miracle League, a baseball league for disabled and handicapped children … Has functioned as a tutor in the UK center for tutorial and academic services, tutoring students in several courses, including a prenatal development class … Has worked during summers at a local baseball instructional facility, helping children 9-14 on pitching techniques, as well as assisting in camp organization.
Michael Hollander, LSU
Participates in children's hospital visits in the Baton Rouge area, meeting with patients and their families. He signs autographs, poses for pictures and lifts their spirits. He participated in the ALS Walk on the LSU campus – the two- mile walk was conducted to raise money and promote awareness of Lou Gehrig's Disease. He annually participates in the Halloween “Boozar” at LSU – he and his teammates dress in Halloween costumes and pass out candy to kids in the Baton Rouge community. Spearheaded the baseball team's Christmas "Adopt A Child" program - the entire team raised money so that an underprivileged family could provide for their child. Purchased gifts for the child with the money the team collected.
Rory McKean, Ole Miss
McKean is active in Reading With The Rebels ... Helped Organize the SEC Canned Food Drive on campus at the University of Mississippi ... Incoming President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee ... Participates in the Bats and Balls Youth Baseball camps ... Visits to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis and Blair E. Batson Children's Memorial Hospital at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
Russ Sneed, Mississippi State
M-Club Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive - This is an annual food drive where the student-athletes collect non-perishable food items from the local community to give to needy families within the Starkville area. Starkville Read Program -promotes reading among kids that is held at the Starkville Library each year. Spoke at this event and encouraged kids to read. M-Club Bully's Book Blitz - Annual reading program at Ward-Stewart Elementary that promotes reading. M-Club Halloween Carnival - Student-athletes sign autographs, have games for the children to play and pass out candy. Take-A-Kid to a Game - Student-Athletes accompany a kid to a game at Mississippi State University and play games with them prior to game time. He accompanied a local youth to the MSU-Kentucky basketball game. Served as a coach at MSU Winter Baseball Camp.
James Darnell, South Carolina
Served as a volunteer for Harvest Hope Food Bank...Volunteer for the Ray Tanner Foundation...Involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as a mentor and a speaker.....Named 2007 ALL-SEC...Preseason All-American...2005-06 and 2006-07 Scholar Athlete Honor Roll.
Zane C. Stone, Tennessee
Zane has been very active with community service from the time he stepped onto campus. He has made a habit of visiting patients at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, UT Medical Center and East Tennessee Children's Hospital. He was very active in organizing the baseball team's involvement with Race for the Cure and has been part of the Friends of the Smokies event, Buddy's Race Against Cancer, several Mission of Hope events as well as an event at the Manna House. He spearheaded the baseball team's participation and fundraising efforts in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk and has helped with annual clinics held for kids in the community. 2008 Tennessee baseball team co-captain … Earned the right to wear the VOLScholar patch on his uniform by achieving a 3.0 grade-point average.
Alex Feinberg, Vanderbilt
Saturday Soldier: President and Founder - Organization that used student-athlete's athletic contacts and reputation to raise funds for charities that helped the families of soldiers killed in Iraq via wrist bands. Athletes Against Assault - Student-athlete organization created to spread awareness of and help stop violence against women. Regional Intervention Program - Consulted non-profit firm on fund-maximizing strategy including reworking financial networking and improving practices of obtaining donations. Volunteered at the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital...Volunteered and Donated on numerous occasions to the Vanderbilt Children's Holiday Party...Volunteered for the Vanderbilt Baseball Winter Clinic...Donated shoes to Shoe Project for underprivileged children...Volunteered and facilitated activities at Kid Zone...Attended Take Back the Night in support of battered women...Participated in FCA...Writing featured in the Vanderbilt student newspaper...Provided baseball lessons to underprivileged children...Donates regularly to Goodwill.
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