Outstanding Collaborative Unit

(L-R) Craig This, Jennifer Papadakis, Alex Torres, Joanie Hendricks, Holly Gersbacher.

An on-campus food drive during homecoming week with a goal of collecting 500 food items, Rowdy 500 far exceeded expectations as participating employees  collected 700 items and $102 for the Food Pantry. The combined effort of members of the Alumni Association, CSAC, USAC, We Serve U, Friendship Food Pantry, and Raider Athletics exceeded their goals and proved how powerful cross-campus collaboration can truly be.

Exhibiting the university’s mission of transforming the lives of students and the communities we serve, Rowdy 500 collected enough goods to serve 200 plus students and their families that visited the pantry during fall 2012.

From the first box of cereal, to the single donation of 25 jars of baby food, and everything in between, Rowdy 500 collected food, utensils, can-openers, and many more needed items, like diapers and wipes.

For one week, collection barrels were placed around campus (including Research Park), at the Volunteer Fair, the numerous homecoming week events (speakers, chili cook-off, etc.), and various homecoming athletic events too. In doing so, Rowdy 500 created for alumni, faculty, and staff a chance to give back to the university and directly help students in need. Plans are already in the works for the Rowdy 500 during Homecoming Week 2013.