FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo women’s basketball team is one of the most active teams within the Montevallo athletic department annually in community service partnerships.

The women’s basketball student-athletes who will make up the 2015-16 roster have already served several Shelby County communities in their first two months on campus. The Falcons have been participating in community service projects every few weeks since they arrived in the fall.

In addition to reading to local students at Montevallo Elementary School and helping families with home improvement projects within the community, the Falcons have also hosted basketball clinics for middle school students at Montevallo Middle School, Calera Middle School, Thompson Middle School and Riverchase Middle School.

“It was sweet seeing the kids eager to learn from us,” said Montevallo senior Jerrisa Green, a four-year member of the women’s basketball team. “It reminded me of when I was in middle school. Things like that make you truly understand why we started playing basketball in the first place.”

While several Shelby County communities have benefitted from the Falcons’ community service efforts, the Montevallo student-athletes who have participated believe they’ve reaped the most rewards.

“Our group really embraces the opportunities,” said Montevallo senior Jasmine Thomas, another four-year member of the women’s basketball team. “Community service offers the ability to develop leaders and helps create a servant-based culture.”

The next partnership on the horizon is with the Montevallo Boys and Girls Club. The Falcons will host club members as their special guests on the opening night of the season Friday, Nov. 13 and will sign autographs after the game against Concordia College.

Many of their new fans who participated in the reading sessions and basketball clinics with the Falcons have pledged to be there to support the team.

“Community service allows our student-athletes to see things from a bigger perspective and gives them a chance to be servant leaders,” said Montevallo women’s basketball coach Cindy Hilbrich. “I am proud of how hard our team worked during the landscaping project and how they have connected with students from Montevallo Elementary School. I am also proud of how they were able to take lessons that we’ve taught them and turn it around to teach the middle school teams. We are excited to continue to develop our relationship with our community.”