Once again, the Athletic Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Texas-Pan American continues its commitment to community service activities this year. At UT Pan American, the involvement of student-athletes is viewed as an integral part of the educational process. A significant effort to help coordinate and initiate the community service projects has been made by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) which is comprised of UTPA student-athletes representing each of the University’s 14 athletic teams.

UTPA student-athletes have participated in a number of projects, including the Texas Adopt-a-Beach Clean-up Program, Celebrity Waiters, Habitat for Humanity and Food Drives.

Since 1986, more than 239,000 volunteers have picked up more than 4,525 tons of trash on Texas beaches as a part of the Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup program. The Lady Bronc Basketball team did their part cleaning up South Padre Island during each of the last two years. For demonstrating academic integrity, good sportsmanship and community involvement, the UTPA Team Image Award was presented to the Lady Bronc Basketball team for the second year in a row.

Members of the Bronc basketball team participated in the Celebrity Waiters Fund Raiser this past year, which collected donations for the Teach the Children Foundation. The Teach the Children Foundation raises money for school supplies for economically challenged children in the Rio Grande Valley.

Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity has built over 95,000 homes in 66 countries, 30,000 of which were built in the United States. Of those 30,000 houses, 51 have been built in the Rio Grande Valley. And once again, student-athletes from the Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Teams along with members of the Bronc Baseball team stepped-up to the task, and worked on four houses right here in Edinburg.

"It’s (Habitat) a great situation where the team gets involved in the community and at the same time we strengthen the camaraderie between us. You get a real sense of accomplishment when you can leave after a day of work and look-up at the roof and know that we made an impact on a local family’s well being. Its just about helping people helping themselves," said Andy Ness, UTPA Baseball player.