North Greenville University athletics department teams up with charity
Posted by The Skyliner on April 15th, 2009James Turner
Staff Writer
Charity is not just for the rich and famous to donate their Jeopardy winnings to. Anyone and everyone can be involved, and it is certainly not all about money donations—which is good news for the average poor college student.
For every person who happens to be reading the Skyliner today, a worthwhile charity, somewhere close by, reaches out for support so it can continue serving the unserved masses. That means anyone and everyone—even college students—can somehow be involved.
What makes it that easy? Well, for one, North Greenville University’s athletics department makes it that easy. From the first week of every athletic student’s freshman year, coaches and faculty encourage them to be involved in some sort of worthy charitable effort or organization.
Assistant Athletic Director and cross country team coach Micah Sepko believes it is the duty of the athletic staff to open students’ minds and hearts to the boundless possibilities that exist to help others who have greater needs than their own.
“It’s a good marketing tool for the school, for one thing,” Sepko said when asked why athletic students were encouraged to participate in charity. “Most schools encourage their athletes and coaches to get out in the community because it broadcasts what the school’s doing.”
According to Sepko, NGU’s women’s basketball team has already been involved with the American Cancer Society to help raise support and awareness for victims suffering from breast cancer, but his view of charity encompasses more than health and homeless organizations.
“The football team went on a missions trip last summer,” Sepko explained. “And I know that they’re going again.” Sepko referred to a week-long trip NGU’s football team took to Mexico where they worked with another university’s football team and shared Christ’s love with the players and coaches. In a video on www.ngcrusaders.com, team member Patrick Norr, who ventured to Mexico with the team, describes the trip as a unique opportunity for football players to help out other football players.
NGU’s head basketball coach Chad Lister has been involved with leading groups of athletic students involved with charities in the past. Any athletic students interested in being involved in charity work should contact him.
News and multimedia videos telling all about the athletic department’s missions and charity work can be found at www.ngcrusaders.com under the Youtube link on the left.
So what opportunities are in store for the near future? Sepko said that “the cross country team has looked into going to Africa either next Christmas or next summer.”
Whether raising support for cancer or taking the gospel to unreached parts of the world, the athletic department sees charity as a vital part of the Christian faith and a liberal arts education.
“We’re always encouraging students to get involved in as many missions trips and charities as they can,” Sepko said. “We encourage our coaches to do the same—to get involved with outreaches for our school.”