Griz in the Community
Several of UM’s student-athletes have become involved with the Griz in the Community program since the Spring 2008 semester. 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. These volunteer events include:
- UM's Student Assault Resource Center’s “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” - The Men’s Basketball and Football teams participated in this event in March 2008 and 2009 to raise awareness to stop rape, sexual assault, and gender violence.
- Russell Elementary School’s “Bike Walk Bus Week Rally” – The Soccer team volunteered to promote healthy transportation in Missoula and interacted with the elementary students in April 2008 and 2009.
- The 2008-2009 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee organized a book drive for all student-athletes
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| 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 - The Volleyball and Golf teams partnered with Habitat for Humanity during the Fall 2008 semester by assisting with home building projects for local families.
Student-Athlete Appearance Information
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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| Soccer’s Stephanie Manseau and Blakele Bergman and football’s Thomas Brooks-Fletcher at the Kiwanis Club’s Annual Pancake Breakfast, April 2009 |
Participation since Spring 2008
Spring 2008
- Approximately 30 visits to elementary, middle, and high schools speaking with students on various topics including: good decision making, doing well in school, motivation, etc., almost every team participated in these events
- Student Assault Resource Center’s (SARC) “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” (awareness of violence against women), several members of the football and men’s basketball teams
- The UM Easter Extravaganza, members of the volleyball and men’s basketball teams
- Bike-Walk-Bus Week Rally at Russell Elementary, members of the soccer team
- CS Porter Middle School Student-of-the-Month program, members of various teams each month
- Breast Cancer awareness at a home game, entire women’s basketball team
Fall 2008
- Missoula’s Habitat for Humanity house-building for local families, entire volleyball and golf teams
- Grizzly Athletics Student-of-the-Month at various elementary schools, members of the soccer and volleyball teams
- Monte’s Birthday Party, entire men’s basketball team
- Make-A-Wish Foundation & Cold Stone Creamery event for children with illnesses, members of the football team
- Muralt’s Travel Plaza Blood Drive, entire men’s basketball team
- Spirit Week assemble at St. Joseph’s Elementary, men’s basketball team
- UM Heart Walk for the American Heart Association, men’s basketball team
- Missoula’s Buddy Walk for the National Down Syndrome Society (awareness of individuals with Down Syndrome), men’s basketball team
- Watson’s Children’s Shelter visit, men’s basketball team
- SARC “Dig for the Cause” (fundraiser to raise awareness of domestic and sexual violence), entire volleyball team, November 1st
Spring 2009
- Lolo Elementary School’s I Love to Read Celebration, Football, Volleyball, & Soccer
- UM Easter Eggstravaganza, Soccer, Volleyball, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Track & Field
- Vintage Suites at Grand Park Assisted Living Facility in Billings, Football
- Kiwanis Club Annual Pancake Breakfast, Soccer, Women’s Basketball, Volleyball, Football
- SAAC Book Drive, Book deliveries, and readings at local elementary schools, every team
- School visits (readings and guest speaking)
- Russell Elementary School’s Bike Walk Bus Week Rally, Soccer
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| Members of the soccer team celebrating Russell Elementary School’s Bike Walk Bus Week rally, April 2009 |
Several of UM’s student-athletes have become involved with the Griz in the Community program since the Spring 2008 semester. 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. These volunteer events include:
UM’s Student Assault Resource Center’s “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” - The Men’s Basketball and Football teams participated in this event in March 2008 and 2009 to raise awareness to stop rape, sexual assault, and gender violence.
Russell Elementary School’s “Bike Walk Bus Week Rally” – The Soccer team volunteered to promote healthy transportation in Missoula and interacted with the elementary students in April 2008 and 2009.
Missoula’s Habitat for Humanity - The Volleyball and Golf teams partnered with Habitat for Humanity during the Fall 2008 semester by assisting with home building projects for local families.
The 2008-2009 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee organized a book drive for all student-athletes 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!