January 19, 2023 —
At the University of the Southwest, students are committed to the mission of servant leadership demonstrated through faith, responsibility, and initiative. Throughout their tenure at the university, USW students are introduced to servant leadership principles in the curriculum for their program of study and through co-curricular activities. Specifically, the university mission outlines “service” as a core value, stating, “As a community of initiative, University of the Southwest challenges graduates to become enterprising members of our society contributing to the common good by advocating and participating in the productive commerce of free enterprise, the constitutional privilege of self-government, and the practical contributions of community service.”
The institution-wide commitment to service was evident throughout the Fall (2022) semester, as USW students participated in a substantial number of community volunteer projects. Totaling more than two-thousand eight hundred (2800) volunteer hours, Mustang student-athletes supported the local community in full force. Students from campus life, baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, soccer, golf, and cross-country worked directly with community partner organizations as part of their volunteer efforts. From local schools and churches to non-profits such as Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and MyPower, university students can learn first-hand and experience the importance of making a positive social impact through service to the community.
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life, Amanda Guzman-Appel, commented, “we are excited to see the coordination between the campus life team, the athletics department, and our community partners as we develop servant leadership activities for our students. They enjoy giving back and engaging with our local community.”
Steve Appel, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Athletics, has spearheaded the effort with the coaches and teams. He stated that “the volunteer projects for our athletes build character and help them connect with community members. We are very proud of the efforts made by our student-athletes to support our partner organizations.”
