Make-A-Wish Treat Bags

As a Make-A-Wish fundraiser, Augustana University student-athletes made Halloween and Valentine’s Day treat bags. Parents were able to order treat bags for their student-athlete and every team at Augustana was able to be involved in the fundraising process. The donations made from these treat bags went directly to Make-A-Wish. 

#StrongerTogether Campaign

The #StrongerTogether Campaign was a fundraiser for Bemidji State’s Black Student Union on campus. One of Bemidji State’s SAAC members, Zoe Carrasco, started the black student union. As a new club, they had little funding. Bemidji State SAAC sold Equality BSU shirts to visually support equality and change on BSU's campus and in the community. It also helped BSU SAAC raise money to directly give to the BSU Black Student Union. 

Valentines for St. Jude’s

Student-athletes at Concordia, St. Paul sent digital Valentines to children at St Jude’s Hospital. This initiative was a great way for CSP student-athletes to connect with children at St Jude’s and bring joy, especially during a time when visitors were very restricted. CSP had great participation across all of teams.

It’s a Slam Dunk, Don’t Drive Drunk

During the 2020-21 academic year, everything with It’s a Slam Dunk, Don’t Drive Drunk was done virtually. UMary SAAC posted on social media facts about drinking and driving. UMary SAAC also allowed individuals to sign the pledge virtually to not drive impaired. Although COVID-19 did not allow for in person interaction with this initiative, implementing the initiative virtually proved to be one of UMary’s most successful years with the initiative.

Trunk or Treat

University of Minnesota Crookston student-athletes hosted Trunk or Treat for the Crookston community for the 3rd year in a row and welcomed over 500 community members to campus on Halloween. Student-athletes decorated their cars and chose costumes to match their themes, such as Jungle Safari, Where's Waldo, Christmas, and Among Us. Community members came to campus and walked along the lineup of cars interacting with the student-athletes and received a bag of candy for Trick-or-Treating. COVID-19 protocols were followed such as masking and social distancing. Feedback from the community was positive as parents were very grateful for a safe option to take their children Trick-or-Treating during the pandemic. 

UMD Green Bandana Project

The athletic department of the University of Minnesota Duluth created a year-long mental health awareness campaign in the fall of 2019 called the UMD Green Bandana Project. The project is led by student-athletes but reaches the entire campus of UMD. The three goals of the campaign are to: (1) decrease the stigma of mental illness within the athletic department and university, (2) support those struggling with mental illness and suicidal thoughts, (3) spread mental health resources and awareness. UMD SAAC accomplished these goals through a partnership with the UMD Bookstore where green bandanas and awareness wristbands are sold, mental health awareness games (Women’s Basketball, Softball, Baseball, Tennis, and Track), and mental health awareness events/partnerships with organizations such as: UMD Counseling Services (Band Together Event), YouMatter (Speak Out Night), UMD Public Health, and the UMD Student Association. In April of 2021, the UMD Green Bandana Project became an official student organization on campus.

Mental Health Awareness/Green Bandana Project

Minnesota State University, Mankato promoted the Green Bandana Project during the 2020-21 academic year to help bring awareness to mental health. MSU SAAC bought and distributed over 100 green bandanas and bag tags with campus mental health resources on them for the Maverick Machine (pep band). The hope and goal of providing these resources is that mental health support will continue to spread to other recognized student organizations on campus.

Make-A-Wish

Minnesota State University Moorhead SAAC did a little twist on the Make-A-Wish campaign this year. MSUM SAAC partnered with Papa Johns and gave students, faculty, and the community an incentive to do 15 pushups, crunches, or squats that equated to $1 donated to Make-A-Wish. MSUM SAAC also shared the Make-A-Wish donation link to campus members and raised a total of $2,100 in donations. Due to COVID-19, the initiative was all online, however this allowed MSUM SAAC to reach individuals miles away and receive more donations. Overall, this year was the biggest turnout for Make-A-Wish yet and MSUM is planning on expanding even further next year.

Green Bandana Project

Minot State University SAAC expanded upon the Green Bandana Project from just student-athletes to the entire Minot State student body. Through partnering with MSU life, the Counselling Department, Residence Life and a few other organizations on campus, every student-athlete along with a large portion of the student body received a green bandana and a resource card to help promote discussions about mental health among peers. Through social media campaigns and partnerships with several organizations, the Green Bandana Project made large strides this year at Minot State in creating awareness for mental health and for the Green Bandana Project.

Voter Registration Initiative

Northern State University SAAC set up a voter registration booth in the Barnett Center for one week in the fall. Student-athletes, coaches, and staff who were not yet registered to vote were encouraged to register. NSU SAAC also provided handouts about how to check registration information for different states and how to vote by mail. In the one week, NSU had over 100 individuals register to vote. 

Green Bandana Project

The University of Sioux Falls SAAC expanded the Green Bandana Project at USF during the 2020-21 academic year. For this project USF SAAC created a video to reach the entire USF campus and community about mental health. It was a project that everyone contributed in and was very proud of.

SMSU SAAC adopts Heritage Pointe Senior Living for the 2020 Holiday Season

Southwest Minnesota State University SAAC wanted to help those in senior living facilities that due to COVID-19 protocols would not be able to see their families over the holiday season. SMSU SAAC members made Christmas cards and with donations from members of the athletic department, were able to purchase small gifts for each of the residents at Heritage Pointe Senior Living in Marshall, Minnesota.

Dome Down

Each year the Athletic Department and Campus Recreation are tasked with taking down (spring) and putting the dome up (fall) at St. Cloud State University.  This is an event that requires a large amount of coordination and requires all hands-on deck. This year with COVID-19 and less individuals on campus, SCSU student-athletes came together to take down the dome in record time. It was a department effort that shows what can be accomplished when all work together as a team!

Mental Health Panel

Upper Iowa University SAAC hosted a mental health panel open to all student-athletes this past fall. The event aimed to help break the stigma of mental health among student-athletes, provide information about resources, and share personal stories surrounding mental health. The panelists included coaches, current student-athletes, and campus counselors. The panel was asked questions submitted by students that encompassed all facets of mental health. Stories and experiences were shared by student-athletes and coaches alike, while campus counselors provided evidence-based findings surrounding mental health. 

Wayne Backpack Program

Wayne State SAAC helped pack bags of food and deliver them to local schools. The bags of food are intended to provide food items to children in need, so they have something to eat for the weekend. The goal is to have items that children can fix themselves with little to no help or cooking needs. WSC SAAC filled about 30 totes (approximately 20-25 bags) every 4 weeks. This project started out as a one time a semester event and has developed into a monthly staple. The Wayne Backpack program is solely funded by donations from the community. 

Zombie Crawl

Every year Winona State University SAAC hosts local elementary school aged children in McCown Gymnasium to play games and teach them about various sports. This year WSU SAAC turned the event virtual, and each team submitted a video of an activity for kids to do at home. WSU SAAC used social media to share these videos and engage the community.