Georgia Southern University student-athletes were recognized for outstanding achievements in community service, academics, and athletics during the annual Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) banquet, highlighting a growing partnership between the Downtown Statesboro Rotary Club and Georgia Southern Athletics.
The Georgia Southern Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Georgia Southern Athletics celebrated the accomplishments of student-athletes whose collective efforts demonstrated the impact of teamwork both on and off the field.
The Georgia Southern Track and Field/Cross Country team received the inaugural Rotary SAAC Service Leadership Award, which includes a $1,000 team award sponsored by the Downtown Statesboro Rotary Club. The team earned the honor by completing 42 volunteer hours in less than two months at the Statesboro Food Bank, setting a strong example of service and civic engagement.
Together with the volleyball, softball, soccer, and rifle teams, Georgia Southern student-athletes contributed a total of 142 volunteer hours to the Statesboro Food Bank during the program’s first service cycle.
The Rotary SAAC Service Leadership Award was established through a collaboration between Ken Wang, a faculty member in Georgia Southern University’s Parker College of Business and a member of the Downtown Statesboro Rotary Club, and Reagan, vice president and head of community service for SAAC. The initiative invites all 15 Georgia Southern athletic teams to compete annually by logging volunteer hours at the Statesboro Food Bank during February through April.
“I am proud to work with Reagan and Georgia Southern SAAC to create an award that recognizes student-athletes for serving the community,” said Ken Wang. “These young men and women are demonstrating leadership by giving their time and energy to support neighbors in need.”
In addition to community service honors, the Georgia Southern Women’s Basketball and Georgia Southern Men’s Basketball teams received the inaugural GATA Excellence Awards in recognition of significant progress in both athletic performance and academic achievement.
The collaboration between the Downtown Statesboro Rotary Club and Georgia Southern Athletics reflects a shared commitment to leadership, service, and student development. By connecting student-athletes with local organizations such as the Statesboro Food Bank, the initiative reinforces the important role athletics can play in building stronger communities.
