Date:
5/25/2005
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
Reporter: Shelley Gilmore
PORTALES — Since January Eastern New Mexico University's football team has been voluntarily doing community service throughout Portales. Ninety football players were split into teams of 10 with a captain and a lieutenant to compete in the Spring Challenge.
Each team acquired points by assisting the community in various ways and receiving a certain amount of points. The groups went around the community doing good deeds, including: assisting the P.E. class at Lindsey Middle School, mowing lawns, washing cars, judging the Spanish Fair at ENMU, doing various jobs at the Baptist Children's Home, working in the Community Action Day and assisting Dr. Megan Chilson with National P.E. day.
Head Coach Mark Ribaudo says, "Giving to the community is very rewarding. We consider ourselves a part of the community and want to help in anyway we can.''
Coach Ribaudo adds, "The kids were very creative about ideas to help the community and we are very proud of them."
The three top teams in points were cooked a steak dinner donated by Scott, Don and Steve Davis. While the top teams were eating, the other groups did various duties around the ENMU fieldhouse and weight room.
The Portales City Council and the Mayor recognized the football team for their efforts and rewarded them with a certificate.