Aurora University Athletics

Over the last couple of years, Aurora University and the Spartan Athletic Department have put a strong emphasis on serving the greater good outside of the classroom and the playing surfaces.

As part of these efforts, the Aurora University Athletic Department and the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry have agreed to partner with the Spartan athletic teams and student-athletes volunteering weekly at the organization. More information on this partnership can be read here. This partnership is an on-going initiative that continues throughout the academic year.

The Spartan athletic department has been recognized numerous times by national organizations including the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) which recognizes athletic departments throughout the nation every year with the NADIIIAA Community Service Awards.

2016-2017

• Athletic Department - Thursday, March 2, 2017 - 15th annual Project Linus event to be held
• Baseball and Softball - (1/30/2017) - AU Baseball and Softball to "Walk a Mile"
• Men's Basketball - (1/27/2017) - Spartan men's basketball to host MS Day on February 4
• Athletic Department - (1/26/2017) - Spartan athletics recognized for Community Service efforts
• Athletic Department - (12/12/2016) - AU SAAC wraps up Cans Across the Conference drive
• Athletic Department - (10/31/2016) - Spartan Athletics and AU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Conducting Food Drive
• Athletic Department - (9/5/2016) - AU athletics continues partnership with Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry
• Men's Soccer - (9/2/2016) - Men’s soccer helping to raise awareness for pediatric cancer

2015-2016

• Football - Chicago Area Alternative Education League (3/20/16) - Assisted in a number of ways during an event
• Football - Kiwanis Club (3/19/16) - Volunteered at the Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast
• Men's Basketball - Hope D Wall School (3/17/16) - Hoops for Hope Basketball game
• Athletic Department - Thursday, March 3, 2016 - 14th annual Project Linus event to be held
• Baseball and Softball - (2/13/2016) - Wayside Crosse Ministries  - Teams combine efforts to walk a mile
• Volleyball - (2/11/16) - LoveYourMelon - Volleyball joins LoveYourMelon campaign
• Men's Basketball - (1/30/2016) - MS Foundation - Spartan men's basketball to host second annual MS Day
• Football - (1/22/2016 - 1/28/2016) - Feed My Starving Children - Members of the football program packaged meals.
• Football - (1/18/2016) - Sunnymere Retirement Community - Spent time with residents, talking and playing games.
• AU SAAC - (1/14/2016) - Big Brothers / Big Sisters - Hosted members at a basketball game and a tour of campus.
• Football - (2016 spring semester) - Schneider Elementary - Reading and mentor program
• Men's Basketball - (2015-2016 season) - Friends of Jacqueline Foundation - Spartan men's basketball makes key addition for 2015-2016 season
• Men's Lacrosse - (11/12/2015) - HEADstrong Foundation - AU's Berkman growing beard in support of HEADstrong Foundation
• Athletic Department - (10/27/2015) - Spartan Athletics and AU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Conducting Food Drive
• Men's Soccer - (10/14/2015) - Go4theGoal Pediatric cancer - Men’s soccer helping to raise awareness for pediatric cancer
• Women's :Lacrosse - (10/10/2015) - Youth Lacrosse Clinic
• Volleyball - (10/5/2015) - Feed My Starving Children
• Men’s Soccer – (10/4/2015) - Lowrie Elementary School - Hosted classes from the school at a game and gave a campus tour.
• Volleyball - (10/3/2015) - Raised money for the SIdeout Foundation for Breast Cancer through Dig for Pink
• Men's and Women's Basketball (10/1/2015) - Dominican Literacy Center fundraiser
• Women's Soccer - (9/27/2015) - Go4theGoal Pediatric cancer
• Football (9/25/15) - Association for Individual Development - Spartan football winning on and off the field
• Women's Lacrosse - (9/16/2015) - AU Morning of Service
• Football and Men's Basketball (2015-2016 academic year) - Two Rivers Head Start Program

2014-2015

• Athletic Department and SAAC (5/12/15) - AU Athletic Department and SACC recognized for Community Service efforts
• Men's Golf - Rich Harvest Farms / Kids Golf Foundation (5/9/15) - Men's golfers volunteer with Kids Golf Foundation
• Women's Soccer, Football - (4/11/15) - AU Morning of Service
• Football - Kiwanis Club (3/21/15) - Volunteered at the Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast
• Athletic Department - Hesed House (3/18/15) - AU hosts special guests from Hesed House
• Women's Lacrosse and SAAC - Polar Plunge (3/8/15) - Spartans take plunge for Special Olympics
• Athletic Department - SAAC Project Linus (3/3/15) - Project Linus a success for AU SAAC
• Athletic Department - Thursday, February 26, 2015 - 13th annual Project Linus event
• Baseball and softball - Wayside Crosse Ministries (2/14/15) - Teams combine efforts to walk a mile
• Softball - Wheatland Elementary School (1/29/15) - Team members volunteered and spoke at Family Reading Night.
• Men's Basketball and AU SAAC - (1/25/15) - Special Olympics basketball tournament
• Men's Basketball - (1/24/15) - Hosted MS Day events during doubleheader
• Women's Soccer - (1/17/15) - Feed My Starving Children
• Women's Basketball - (12/17/14) - Feed My Starving Children
• Athletic Department - (12/15/14) - AU wraps up Cans Across the Conference drive
• Men's Soccer, Football, Men's Basketball, Hockey and Baseball (2014-2015 academic year) - Two Rivers Head Start Program
• AU SAAC - (Fall 2014) - Pen pals with the third grade at Kennedy Middle School
• Football (10/22 and 10/23/14) - Coats for Kids
• Athletic Department - (10/21/14) - Spartan Athletics and AU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Conducting Food Drive
• Women's Tennis - (10/19/14) - Women's tennis makes strides against breast cancer
• Men's Basketball (10/6/14) - Members of the team volunteered at Hesed House
• Volleyball - (10/4/14) - Raised money for the SIdeout Foundation for Breast Cancer through Dig for Pink
• Football - (9/17/14) - Team members attended an AID tailgate to provide company and community support for disabled residents
• Men's lacrosse - (9/14/14) - Men's lacrosse hosts free clinic at West Aurora HS
• Football - (8/30/14) - Spartan football kicking off 2014 with community service

2013-2014

• Women’s Basketball – (6/30/14) - AU’s Carper accepts #Chillin4Charity challenge
• Softball – (5/6/14) - NACC SAAC Honors Special Olympic Athletes at Softball Tournament
• Football – (4/29/14) – Spartan football hosts Campus Clinic
• Volleyball – (4/29/14) – Volleyball hosts free youth clinic
• Men’s Soccer – (4/29/14) Men's Soccer wins Wackerlin volunteer project award
• Football – Two Rivers Head Start Program (3/18/14) - Spartan football partners with Two Rivers Head Start
• AU Athletics – Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry (3/5/14) - The Aurora University athletic department and the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry have agreed to partner with the Spartan athletic teams and student-athletes volunteering weekly at the organization.
• SAAC/SATSO – Project Linus (2/27/14) - Made fleece tie blankets for children who are sick or are in need
• Men’s Soccer – Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry (2/20/14) - Men’s Soccer players volunteered at Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry and helped distribute food, organize donations, and performed cleaning duties. 
• Baseball – Wayside Crosse Ministries (2/8/14) - Raised money by walking a mile for battered and homeless women and children
• SAAC – Polar Plunge Special Olympics (2/8/14) - Jumped into icy water to help raise money for Special Olympics
• Softball – Wayside Crosse Ministries (2/8/14) – Members of the softball team raised money by walking a mile for battered and homeless women and children
• Men’s Soccer – Mutual Ground Shelter (12/13/13) - Assisted with putting up Christmas decorations and lights for their residents
• Baseball – Bethany Community Church/Victims of Illinois Tornado (12/13/13) - Tornado relief work, clearing debris, breaking houses down in Washington, Illinois
• Baseball – Rubicon/Victims of Illinois Tornado (12/4/13) - Tornado relief work, clearing debris, breaking houses down in Washington, Illinois.
• Men's Lacrosse – Help in the community (11/27/13) – Players and staff helped take care of yards in the community (raked/cleaned).  Also members of the team raised community involvement and awareness in the area and helped restore AU & Community Balance.
• Members off the SAAC donated food they collected to the food pantry as part of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Cans across the conference initiative.
• Men’s Soccer – Lowrie Elementary School (11/21/13) - Men’s Soccer players travelled to Lowrie Elementary School in Elgin to participate as bi-lingual readers for their annual reading night.  Players were able to read children stories in both English and Spanish to their pen-pals
• Women’s Lacrosse – Feed My Starving Children (11/11/13) - Volunteer to make meals to send overseas
• Men’s Soccer – Victims of the Philippines’ Tsunami (11/13) - Collected and directly sent donated items to assist children affected by the tsunami in the Philippines
• Men’s Lacrosse – Collected can goods (10/31/13) - In lieu of collecting candy on Halloween, members of the Aurora University men's lacrosse program went door to door in costume and collected canned goods as part of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Cans Across the Conference food drive.
• Men’s Soccer – Top Soccer Chicago (10/26/13) - Men’s soccer players assisted severely mentally/physically disabled children play soccer and socialize with other children through sports
• Women’s Tennis – Making Strides for Breast Cancer Awareness (10/19/13) – the tennis team members participated in mile walk to help raise money for breast cancer awareness
• SAAC – Feed my Starving Children (10/18/13) - Made meals for needy children in third world countries.
• Men’s Soccer – Mutual Ground Shelter (10/13/13)  - Members of the Men’s Soccer program assisted the shelter with landscaping duties, yard work, and cleaning around the property as well as help move furniture and items within the shelter
• Baseball – Two Rivers Head Start Agency (Fall 2013) - Served as mentors for elementary school children
• Volleyball – Sideout Foundation (10/4/13) - Raised money for Sideout Foundation for cancer research
• Men’s Soccer – Lowrie Elementary School (9/25/13) - Men’s Soccer program hosted three elementary classes from Lowrie School on campus.  AU Soccer players provided a tour of campus, soccer clinic to the children they have a pen-pal relationship, and hosted the children at their game on Vago Field
• Football - AFCA Good Works Team (9/18/13) - Senior Tyler Simmons was named to the AFCA Good Works Team

2012-2013

• Men’s Soccer – Lowrie Elementary School (4/26/13) - Men’s soccer members traveled to Lowrie Elementary School in Elgin and put on a soccer clinic for their pen pals.  AU soccer players also put on a Q&A with the children to discuss the advantages of going to college. 
• Women’s Soccer – Aurora University Day of Service (Spring 2012 and 2013) - Cleaning up the Fox Valley River Valley in conjunction with AU morning of service
• Men’s Soccer – Top Soccer Chicago (4/20/13) - Men’s soccer players assisted severely mentally/physically disabled children play soccer and socialize with other children through sports
• Volleyball – Triple Threat (4/13) – Players and staff gave a free clinic for Aurora Middle School children to expose them to sports
• Football - Schneider Elementary School (2/18/13) - Players volunteered at the elementary school's fun fair.
• Men’s Soccer – San Jose Children’s’ Orphanage in San Jose, Costa Rica (3/8/13)  - On their trip to Costa Rica, the men’s soccer program donated items and volunteered at a children’s’ orphanage by actively playing with the children through games and sports
• Women’s Lacrosse – Friends of Jacqueline (3/1/13) - Adopted a team sister who is battling a brain tumor.  Outreach and support
• SAAC/SATSO – Project Linus (2/28/13) - Made fleece tie blankets for children who are sick or are in need.
• SAAC – Special Olympics/Fox Valley Special Recreation (2/17/13) - Volunteered at Geneva High School to help run a basketball tournament for athletics with special needs
• Softball – Wayside Cross Ministries Mile Walk (2/9/13) - Participated in mile walk to raise money for organization
• SAAC/FPEC/Wellness Center – Young Hearts for Life (2/1/13) - Worked with Young Hearts for Life to bring Cardiac Screening to our athletic and student population
• SAAC and Women’s Basketball – Briana Paladino (1/22/13) - Sold shirts and raised funds to donate to a young girl who has cancer.
• SAAC – Hesed House (11/18/12) - Members off the SAAC donated food they collected to the food pantry as part of the Northern Athletics Conference Cans across the conference initiative.
• Men’s Soccer – Lowrie Elementary School (10/29/12) - Men’s Soccer program hosted three elementary classes from Lowrie School on campus.  AU Soccer players provided a soccer clinic to the children they have a pen-pal relationship with.
• Football - Breast Cancer Awareness (10/9/12) - Raise awareness for national breast cancer month
• Men’s Soccer – Mutual Ground Shelter (10/13/13)  - Members of the Men’s Soccer program assisted the shelter with landscaping duties, yard work, and cleaning around the property as well as help move furniture and items within the shelter
• Men's Lacrosse – Toys for Tots (12/12) - Members of the Aurora lacrosse team help give to those less fortunate
• Men’s Soccer – Top Soccer Chicago (9/15/12) - Men's soccer players assisted severely mentally/physically disabled children play soccer and socialize with other children through sports.
• Football - Aurora University Veterans and Military Service Association (9/15/12) - Spartan football and AU students team up to support local military personnel and veterans
• Men's and Women's Cross Country - Feed My Starving Children (8/23/12) - Members of both teams combined efforts to pack meals at Feed My Starving Children in Aurora.

2011-2012

• Men's Lacrosse – Lax for Leukemia - Leukemia/ Lymphoma Society (4/29/12) - Raised awareness and helped those in need.
• Football - Schneider Elementary School (2/22/12) - Players volunteered at the elementary school's fun fair.
• Baseball – Wayside Crosse Ministries (2/8/12) - Raised money by walking a mile for battered and homeless women and children
• SAAC – Polar Plunge Special Olympics (1/25/12) - Jumped into icy water to help raise money for Special Olympics
• Women's Soccer - Kick MS (9/17/11) - Spartan women's soccer team raised over $2,000 for the National MS Society with Kick MS Day on Vago Field