ELKINS, W. Va. – In conjunction with the start of classes and the official opening to the 2019-20 academic year at Davis & Elkins College, student-athletes and other athletic department personnel worked to clean and beautify the city of Elkins on Monday night.
A major service project initiative for the department for multiple years, the Senators worked on picking up trash and cleaning downtown Elkins and surrounding areas for about 70 minutes over a two-mile radius.
"Three years ago we went from just telling student-athletes what our mission was about to actually living it out from the start with our partnership with Mayor Broughton to clean up the city," director of athletics Jamie Joss said. "We are privileged to have the opportunity to make a tangible impact in the Elkins community each fall with this cleanup and throughout the year as we volunteer with other non-profit organizations and any local group that needs our help."
Different sports were given specific areas of the Elkins community to attend to, with members of the department dispersing all throughout the area in a collaborative effort.
"Last year we finished ninth in NCAA DII with over 4,500 hours of community engagement, and we look to exceed that number this year," Joss continued.
Student-athletes have been busy with community service since their return to campus, with the volleyball, men's soccer, women's soccer and triathlon teams working to move artifacts from the Stirrup Gallery last week during preseason camp. Additionally, members of the campus community will work together for the Rise Against Hunger event on Sunday, August 25.
