RICHARDSON, Texas –– East Texas Baptist University senior football student-athlete James Fugate and Texas Lutheran University junior tennis student-athlete Yvonne Castillo have been named winners of the 2011-12 American Southwest Conference Community Service Award, the ASC office announced on Tuesday (May 22) after a vote of the league’s athletic directors.

The ASC Community Service Award, in its fourth academic year, honors a male and female student-athlete who best displays leadership and action in fostering community service on their campus and local community. Each ASC member institution has the opportunity to nominate its campus community service award winner to the conference-wide ballot.

Fugate (Houston, TX / Santa Fe HS), a psychology and criminal justice double major, served as a bone marrow donor last year to an anonymous individual in the eastern U.S. and continues to be an advocate for marrow donations. He has helped the local Habitat for Humanity building houses for the needy in the Marshall area and also is involved with a prison ministry, spending time on Sundays fellowshipping with and ministering to inmates.

This past year James served as the head of the ETBU Football Mentoring Program that allows players to spend time with local youth at elementary and junior high schools. He has also been an active member of Journey Served, the Baptist Student Ministry freshman families program, and also Disciple Now, where he serves as a small group leader for Disciple Now Bags For The Homeless. James also has a volunteer car service on campus, helping fellow students who may be experiencing car trouble. He has also participated in missions trips to Alaska, London, Ukraine and was a former camp counselor at Carolina Creek Christian Camp.

“Not one time has James ever done any of this for any recognition for himself,” ETBU football head coach Mark Sartain said. “His spirit of humility is genuine. What he has done is set an example for Christ. As his coach I couldn't be more proud of a young man.”

Castillo (Converse, TX / Judson HS), a kinesiology major, is heavily involved in the Texas Lutheran and Seguin communities. In addition to serving as the women's tennis team captain and as an officer in both SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) and MASA (Mexican-American Student Association), Yvonne has worked with the following groups and projects: SAAC Backpack Project (feeding families in need at Seguin Rodriguez Elementary and Ball Early Childhood Center), Seguin Rodriguez Elementary Obesity Project (coaching/mentoring children to lose weight and become more fit), Seguin ISD Special Olympics, TLU Empty Bowls Project (fundraiser for San Antonio Food Bank), TLU’s CAC (College Against Cancer) chapter, TLU’s Habitat for Humanity chapter, TLU’s Center for Servant Leadership (mentoring neglected children on Wednesday evenings), and Day of the Dawgs (TLU/Seguin community service projects).

Yvonne also visits local schools and talks to students about staying in school, graduating, and attending college. Yvonne also is a member of the Catholic Student Organization, EnACT (environmental action group), and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“Yvonne truly exemplifies the service leadership ideal that is such a strong component of the Texas Lutheran educational experience,” TLU tennis head coach Michael Hunt said. “She thinks first of others and of how she can help those in need. Yvonne is everything that you look for in a team captain and as a student leader. She is very deserving of this award, and we are very proud of her.”

Male: James Fugate, Sr., East Texas Baptist University (Football)
Female: Yvonne Castillo, Jr., Texas Lutheran University (Tennis)

2011-2012               James Fugate, East Texas Baptist                 Yvonne Castillo, Texas Lutheran
2010-2011               Max Taylor, Mary Hardin-Baylor                         Kaitlyn McCanna, Texas Lutheran
2009-2010               (co) Michael Cucinotta, East Texas Baptist
                                   (co) Seth Lynn, Mary Hardin-Baylor                 Kaela Parnell, Hardin-Simmons
2008-2009               Brandon Pierson, Ozarks                                  Lea Rana, Ozarks

OTHER 2011-12 ASC COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD CAMPUS HONOREES

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Heath Padgett, a transfer from Temple Junior College, founded his own company in Austin Texas in August 2011 called Aristo Movement. It is a service-based clothing line geared towards giving back and providing assistance for those affected by natural disasters such as the wildfires that plagued much of Central Texas over the past year. In addition to close friends, Padgett has particularly utilized several Concordia student-athletes from the baseball and softball teams to assist him with his projects. The first major project occurred on Oct. 29, 2011 when a group of approximately 30 volunteers, including seven CTX softball and six CTX baseball players, headed to Bastrop to assist a family affected by the wildfires after learning that many families do not have full coverage for their homes when a natural disaster happens and lack debris removal insurance. Padgett continues to run his own business, tackling other projects such as this while also being a full-time student at Concordia and an important member of the school’s nationally-ranked baseball team that recently won its second straight ASC title.

Hometown: New Braunfels, Texas

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:
Brunnemann is a member of the SAAC and was heavily involved in the planning of the HSU Special Olympics Day as part of NCAA Division III Week. He also organized and cooked hamburgers and hot dogs for over 250 people at the HSU SAAC cookout at the ASC Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament.

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Brendan was an active member of the New Beginnings Baptist Church in Longview, where he volunteered his time and efforts to many of their inward and community ministries. A mechanical engineering major, Brendan is actively involved in LIMBS International, a non-profit organization founded by LeTourneau University professor Roger Gonzalez in 2004; the organization is focused on bringing innovative, extremely low cost, high-quality prosthetic technology to people in developing nations. During the season, Brendan was able to use his time and talents as a cross country runner at the Gator Run in Louisiana, in which several members of the Centenary and LeTourneau teams met and interacted with children in the Shreveport community.

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Bell’s story is one of overcoming adversity, some self-inflicted. Bell first came to Louisiana College in 2008. His first year in college was not one to be admired. Although he showed promise on the field, he lacked focus in the classroom, his grades suffered and he found himself out of football by 2009. For many, this low point would have spelled the end but Bell learned from his mistake, divorced himself from football for a year and got his grades, and life, in order. He began attending church regularly and devoted himself to his spirituality and the service of others. When he returned to football in 2010, it was as a new man. He became widely active in a bevy of service projects. As of 2012, Bell serves as the Youth Pastor at Family of Grace Church, Fellowship of Christian Athletes advisor at Bolton High School and works with Missional Community Outreach Group. In February of 2012, he represented this group in a mission trip to Haiti and will serve in a similar capacity on a trip to Peru this summer. Additionally, he is a “staffer,” which translates loosely to “Jack of All Trades,” at Tall Timbers Christian Camp in Woodworth, La. He plays an integral role in the Louisiana College Football Nursing Home Ministry, a program during which teams of LC football players visit local nursing homes the Friday before every home game. He is also on the leadership team for the Louisiana College Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Hometown: Katy, Texas

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Seth spearheaded UMHB’s involvement in the Sole 2 Soul campaign to raise awareness of and send shoes and money to support orphans in Haiti. The program raised $2,000 and donated 65 pairs of shoes this year alone. Seth was also heavily involved in organizing the baseball program’s involvement and partnership with women’s basketball in breast cancer awareness and fundraising. That program has raised more than $1,500 for breast cancer research under Seth’s leadership. The 2010 ASC Community Service Award Winner has also led the Cru’s efforts during the “Make-A-Change in 14 days” campaign and he serves as Vice-President of the UMHB Student-Athlete Advisory Council. He is also a four-year starter at first base, is a three-time ASC Academic All-Conference selection and also earned ASC All-West Division honors during his career.

Sport: Cross Country / Track & Field

Major: Secondary Education

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Will was an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Mississippi College where he became a large part of group of student-athletes that traveled to the Arbor Park Apartments weekly and tutored children in the complex. Clingon led the group of guys and girls that also played games, shared Bible stories and provided snacks for the kids. Eventually, Will was able to minister to the adults and parents in the apartment complex. Will was also named the Men’s Track and Field Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year this season.

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Zach Doty devoted much of his “off” time to campus and community efforts while at Ozarks. Doty sandwiched serving in a number of campus organizations between running cross country and juggling a job within the sports information office as the department’s chief photographer. Among Doty’s most recognized community contributions came when he spearheaded efforts to improve a local radio station’s web site. Additional community service included assisting the local Salvation Army and helping homeless and lost animals at Clarksville’s Needy Paws Animal Shelter. An accomplished student in the school’s widely-recognized Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE), he initiated the athletic department’s popular twitter account. Doty volunteered time with campus groups including Phi Beta Lambda, Baptist Campus Ministries and the Residence Hall Association. Doty was recognized for his “team-first” attitude as he was voted the ASC Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year for men’s cross country in 2011. He was a member of the ASC All-Academic Team for both cross country and sports information and graduatde with Magna Cum Laude honors.

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

President of Student Athlete Advisory Committee - President of Restaurant of the Month Committee (Promote discounts to students at local restaurants) - Cinderella Project (Supporting abused women) – April CinderFELLA Project (Raising money for Cystic Fibrosis) – October CSI – Community Service Projects around Kerrville - Big Brothers Big Sisters - YMCA - Raising over $2,300 dollars during make a change(Lead Campaign) - February - YMCA – Hosted an afterschool program on Schreiner University’s Campus – February Volunteer for City at Mardigras on Main - March - Volunteer for City Christmas Parade – November Volunteered for hosting SU Game Night - Adopt a highway trash pickup

Name: Johnathon Cruz 

Hometown: San Antonio, Texas

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Johnathon has proven to be a tireless competitor on the tennis court and had the most wins this year on our team.   Besides being a member of the academic all-conference team, he is involved in many on-campus activities as he is the president of the student government association. He has also been an active volunteer for the Alpine Public Library, Food Pantry of West Texas, and participated in the Relay for Life event.

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Andrew Lozano has done a great job with all of our community service projects throughout the year, including: Day of the Dawgs, our annual Easter Egg hunt at Eden Crossing/Eden Place, and our mentoring program with Jefferson Elementary.  He worked hard to help us clean up at Jefferson Elementary for Day of the Dawgs, provided great spirit for the kids at the Easter Egg hunt, and has been a great role model mentoring at Jefferson Elementary this spring. On top of his service to the community, Andrew also is a member of our Geography Club and the TLU education program. Andrew is a two-year letterman for the TLU men’s soccer program. He was a 2011-12 ASC Academic All-Conference selection.

Major: Behavioral Science

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Dalaine Whitlock is President of the Concordia Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and also the National SAAC representative for the American Southwest Conference and Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. She helped start an Athletes for Athletes Program that has been recognized by Special Olympics Texas (SOTX) Public Relations, which involves Concordia student-athletes going to support and volunteer at SOTX events in Austin and SOTX athletes coming to Concordia home events to support the Tornados in which all the game activities would be centered around them. Whitlock helped organize several activities with SOTX athletes at CTX home games ranging from a unified basketball scrimmage, volleyball serving contest and introductions as well as autograph sessions at baseball and softball games. Concordia Texas Athletics received the 2012 Special Olympics Texas Area 13 award for “outstanding service from a civic/service organization,” and Whitlock was one of two representatives from Concordia invited to accept the award for her dedication and hard work to make the partnership between both groups a success. She also was among a select few individuals to receive a certificate of appreciation from the SOTX Area 13 office.

Name: Nicole Vanderlaan

Major: B.S.E. Elementary Education

Hometown: North Richland Hills, Texas

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

After school volleyball and cheerleading program.Nicole, along with several friends, started an after school volleyball and cheerleading clinic at George Washington Carver Elementary School in Marshall, Texas. Carver Elementary is categorized as a Title I low-income school, and over 95% of its students are considered economically disadvantaged. The clinics were completely free and were for the month of May for two hours, two days a week. Beach ReachOver spring break. Nicole went on an ETBU-sponsored mission trip to South Padre Island called “Beach Reach”. During that week, the students fed and gave safe rides to Spring Breakers, as well as shared the Gospel with everyone they came in contact with. Pancake Breakfast Nicole, as part of a group of college students, went to a park in Longview, Texas and served a pancake breakfast to the homeless.

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Roth led not only the women’s soccer team in various community service projects she was also the president of the SAAC for the third straight year. She helped organize the HSU Day with West Texas Special Olympics, organized the HSU Student-Athlete Tailgate party. She also traveled to visit Drs. Trent and Tabby Cox in Ethiopia to learn about and assist with their veterinary mission work and assisted with treating approx 500 cattle and 100 goats in a remote village.

Major: Biomechanical Engineering

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

An active student-athlete on the field and off, Jamie devoted a great amount of her time to various civic groups and service projects in the LeTourneau and Longview communities. As a representative on LeTourneau’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Jamie played an active role in LeTourneau’s involvement with the Boys and Girls Club of Longview and with the Special Olympics projects. Jamie was one of the most active LeTourneau athletes in terms of helping out at the Boys and Girl Club, spending numerous afternoons there providing help with schoolwork and mentoring young children. She is also a member of New Beginnings Baptist Church in Longview, where she is an active leader in the church’s youth group; Jamie was active in organizing and leading NBBC’s Disciple Now weekends. Her leadership in her faith was also evident in her LeTourneau community, as Jamie helped organize LeTourneau’s first Athletics Chapel earlier in the school year.

Sport: Soccer / Cross Country

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Stephanie Baer was a pilar of the LC community from the time she stepped on campus through her early graduation in December 2011. Baer’s involvement in community service projects will hardly fit into a 200-word format. She managed to graduate with a 4.0 from Louisiana College after balancing life as a two-sport athlete with a high level of activity in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and other aspects of the community. She wrote writing a benevolence fund policy to help establish a benevolence fund to give food cards to people in the community. She leads a women's fitness ministry and has, since her graduation and relocation to North Arkansas, become involved with Arkansas State FCA. Last summer and the summer before she taught 60-plus hours of conversational English in Ukraine, and she’s now teaching the Sunday and Wednesday youth Bible study in Jonesboro, Ark. She was also a finalist for the NCAA postgraduate scholarship.

Major: Interdisciplinary studies

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Miranda was one of the key leaders in a busy and productive year of community service for the UMHB women’s basketball team. The Cru raised more than $1,900 to benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Foundation during its annual Pink Zone activities. Miranda also helped organize Operation Christmas Child activities as the Cru women’s basketball team sent 22 shoe boxes full of toys, clothes and hygiene items to children in third world countries. Miranda was also active volunteering at Helping Hands ministry and with the Love Cures 5K race to raise money for cancer research. Miranda was an ASC Academic All-Conference selection and a four-year letter winner for the Cru.

Hometown:  Baton Rouge, La.

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

As a freshman, Holly helped lead a group of student-athletes that traveled to the Arbor Park Apartments every week and ministered to the children in the complex. Tupper and the group provided snacks for the children, as well as, tutoring, playing games, and sharing Bible stories with the kids. Holly was also able to break through and minister to the adults in the complex, as well. Tupper earned an Honorable Mention All-ASC East Division selection in her rookie season.

Major: Environmental Studies/Political Science

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Morgan O’Neil is among the top academic students on campus all while being involved with a variety of campus and community organizations. Within the community, O’Neil helped with the Johnson County Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball as a waiter and kitchen assistant the last three years. She continues to provide mentoring to area youth as a soccer coach and referee in the Tri-County Soccer Association. She also has assisted at the Helping Hands Women's Shelter by raking leaves, planting, painting and doing general upkeep of the shelter. At Clarksville’s Needy Paws Animal Shelter for homeless and lost animals, she walks dogs and fulfills other assignments. On campus, she works in the admissions office giving campus tours to prospective students. She also assists with calling prospective student-athletes and has helped with on-campus soccer camps. She has been a member of the ASC All-Academic Team.

Name: Elia (Maggie) Rios

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Project Cinderella  -   How clean is your Watershed? (2011) -  ANAD Week: Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders Week -  Tate’s Totes: Cystic Fibrosis Philanthropy  - Volunteer at C.A.M.P Camp: Children’s Association for Maximum Potential  -  Schreiner University Mountaineer Adventure Program (2011) -  CSI: Kerrville Community Service Infusion  -  Volunteer 7 on 7 Basketball Tourney sponsored by Shades United (2011) KSTARR Easter egg Hunt

Hometown: El Paso, Texas

Summary of community service activities and accomplishments:

Josette is a member of the Sul Ross volleyball team and is an individual that reflects the true nature of the DIII athlete.   She was honorable mention all-west division as a setter this year as a setter this year and has been perennial member of the academic all-conference team. She is active in student government and led a team in the local Relay for Life (cancer benefit). She also was involved in highway clean-up and helped with the programming on Earth Day.