Though service activities and outreach to the community have been taking place for years with individual contributions, Spring 2008 began the official induction of the Griz in the Community service program. The program enables student-athletes to have a holistic college experience by giving back to the surrounding community, speaking to local school children, and serving as role models in the area. Student-athletes from every team have made over 200 volunteer appearances since the beginning of the program. Some of these volunteer events have included:

• UM's Student Assault Resource Center's 'Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" to promote awareness of violence against women

• Russell Elementary School's 'Bike Walk Bus Week Rally"

• The 2008-2009 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee organized a book drive for all student-athletes

  The 2008 Volleyball team partnering with Missoula's Habitat for Humanity

  to take part in, during men's and women's home basketball games in February 2009 to help collect and donate books to local schools. Student-athletes delivered the books and read to children during March to culminate the project. Look out for another book drive during the 2009-2010 Griz basketball seasons!

• Missoula's Habitat for Humanity

• Monthly visits to elementary, middle, and high schools speaking with students on various topics including: good decision making, doing well in school, motivation, etc.

• UM's Easter Extravaganza

• CS Porter Middle School Student-of-the-Month program

• Breast Cancer awareness programs

• Monte's Birthday Party Bash

• Make-A-Wish Foundation & Cold Stone Creamery Events

• Muralt's Travel Plaza Blood Drive

• Repainting the "M"

• Spirit Week at St. Joseph's Elementary

• UM Heart Walk for the American Heart Association

• Missoula's Buddy Walk for the National Down Syndrome Society to promote awareness of individuals with Down Syndrome

• Watsons Children's Center

• Lolo Elementary School's I Love to Read Celebration

• Vintage Suites at Grand Park Assisted Living Facility in Billings

• Kiwanis Club Annual Pancake Breakfast

• UM's Student Assault Resource Center's "Dig for the Cause" to promote awareness of domestic and sexual violence

• Salish Kootenai Midnight Hoops in Pablo, MT

• St. Regis School's 1st grade class sharing the importance of positive attitudes

• Hamilton School District's Keystone Program working with elementary children in the after-school based program to focus on good sportsmanship

• Missoula Family YMCA to promote active and healthy lifestyles

• Unplug & Play Week to help promote healthy and active lifestyles by spending a week dedicated to getting kids and families to turn off their various screens (TV's, computers, cell phones, etc.) and go outside to play

• Special Olympics

• Meadowhill Middle School's Rotary Club Student Award Monthly Luncheons

Entities wishing to request student-athlete appearances are required to fill out the Public Appearance Request Form. It is important to understand that the NCAA has very strict and complicated rules governing student-athlete appearances and any violations of these rules could result in the ineligibility of a student-athlete.  In order for the request to be permitted, submitted Request Forms must first be reviewed for approval by the appropriate channels. Notification will be sent upon approval. Even though a student-athlete appearance may have been approved for your event in the past, a new form and approval must be completed each time.

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• Photo slideshows

• More photos are available at http://grizacademics.blogspot.com

Soccer's Stephanie Manseau and Blakele Bergman and football's Thomas Brooks-Fletcher at the Kiwanis Club's Annual Pancake Breakfast, April 2009