Janice Timmerman | Staff Writer
Thursday, Apr 28th marked the 103rd anniversary for Buena Vista University’s (BVU) day of service, Buenafication Day. Just as every year, athletic teams participated in service throughout the day. From making shoes, to playing with elementary school kids, and planting trees, athletes were helping out all over campus, Storm Lake and local communities.
On campus working hard was the football team who helped maintenance move chairs and more in preparation for commencement in a few short weeks. The cheerleaders, men’s soccer and women’s basketball teamed up in a project that cut jeans and milk jugs to turn them into shoes for the people of Africa, along with making tie blankets and food packaging.
“We had a goal to make 1,000 meals and we ended up running out of food to package. Overall it was a great time and I think see the results right away for us meant,” junior soccer player Matt Tennyson said.
The baseball team traveled to the ball diamonds for a little spring cleaning. They spent their Buenafication Day picking up sunflower seeds on the field and in the dugouts.
“It was important for the team and myself because it’s nice to show up to practice and games and see a place that looks good and I hope others see it as the same,” senior outfielder Bennett Mann said.
Across the city of Storm Lake, the softball team helped clean up at the Storm Lake Marina. Women’s soccer and men’s basketball planted trees at the Sunrise Pointe Golf Course. Their morning ended with a tree planting ceremony that brought in the Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey. What an experience, despite the cold rainy weather.
The BVU volleyball team partnered up with Teacher’s Inc. and were found in Smith Hall painting the hallways while the wrestling team volunteered at the Alta Fire Department cleaning up the bay and washing firetrucks. Their #RunningManChallenge video won the Alumni Association Student Board contest.
“Putting together the Spirit Contest video is a good example of the camaraderie the wrestlers share and how much we like to have fun,” freshman Brad Kerkhoff said.
Later in the afternoon, wrestling also volunteered at the Storm Lake Elementary playing bubble soccer with the kids for a few hours.
Beaver athletes are more than on the field or in the gym athletes. Buenafication Day is not the only time you find our athletes giving back to the community that continuously supports our athletic teams.
Photo by Mary Rose Timko
