Auburn University at Montgomery: Lady Senators Soccer Makes Mark in Community

Story submitted by Darrell Orand, Auburn University at Montgomery, Assistant Athletics Director

MONTGOMERY, Ala. —Often for student-athletes the off-season is a time to get bigger, stronger, faster and better.  Those things have not changed for the women’s soccer team at Auburn University at Montgomery, but this off-season has also seen the Lady Senators make their mark in the community.

Being involved in the community is something the AUM athletic department has long been a part of.  The participation in multiple events per semester is becoming more popular among the head coaches.  The Lady Senators soccer program is a great example of being involved in several community events, as it has taken on four programs to participate in.

The Lady Senators teamed with the AUM Chapter of the American Humanics Club and were involved in the American Humanics Christmas Program.  This program is specialized for disadvantaged and low-income youth in the community.

“This was an opportunity for our girls to spend time with underprivileged youth from the Montgomery Community and take part in a campus service with the American Humanics club,” Handley said.  “The girls enjoyed the excitement of the holiday spirit and the joy the children showed in meeting collegiate athletes.”

On Valentine’s Day the team participated in the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans.  The program was sponsored by the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System.

“This program was a lot of fun and I think very rewarding for our student-athletes,” Handley said.  “Many of the men we visited were actually being released and heading home to family and friends, so they were in great spirits.  We truly appreciated the opportunity to thank them for their time and services spent in the armed forces.”

There is a national program called Read Across America, and one of those participating schools was Dozier Elementary from here in Montgomery.  The soccer program took the opportunity to visit the school and meet and read to the students.

“The entire team, coaches included, enjoyed the opportunity to read to many young students in the community,” Handley said.  “Dr. Seuss is such a fun author to read from and the ladies did a wonderful job engaging these young children in their readings.”

“We have several international student-athletes on the team and they were able to speak with the children about where they are from.  I believe this is one of the most exciting community service events that we participate in on an annual basis, because so many children in our community have not been exposed to collegiate athletes, much less international collegiate student-athletes.”

The latest project the team got involved in was the PTSO Family Reading Night at Eclectic Elementary School.  The small town of Eclectic is located in rural Alabama, which for some of the players was a challenge in and of itself.

“I appreciate four of our ladies offering to help and travel to a more rural area of Alabama and participate as guest readers,” Handley said.  “These girls took the time to pick out their own personal books from their childhood, to help incorporate their theme of Wild about Reading.  The girls signed autographs and handed out door prizes.  It is important to me our student-athletes spend time with many different groups in our community and I am excited they were willing to branch outside of the Montgomery community.”

The women’s soccer program will not stop with just these events, as they have plans to stay involved in the community when those opportunities arise.

To learn more about AUM women’s soccer click here.

Top picture: Assistant Coach Richonne Clark participates in Read Across America Day at Dozier Elementary School

Middle picture: The AUM women's soccer team visits a hospitalized veteran during the Salute to Veterans program.

Bottom picture: Tinna Hauksdottir and Alexander Tomasdottier read to a group of elementary school children.