SHARON, PA - In the midst of their respective off-seasons, the Penn State Shenango student-athletes and their teams completed their annual volunteer week campaigns this past April.

For the second year in a row, the Shenango Men's Basketball team helped the grounds crew at Buhl Park clean up the park. On a cold and rainy day, the guys scaled the park for loose branches and other debris to make the park more presentable for the spring season. Afterwards, they enjoyed a team-bonding meal at Giovanni's, to give back to a sponsor of Shenango Athletics. "Here at Shenango we are fortunate to have such a welcoming community who has time and time again stepped up, not only to bring back athletics, but to take it to the next level. Although many of our gentlemen do not originate from the Shenango Valley, we feel it is vital that they show their appreciation for this hard-working community who has granted them this life-altering experience to participate in college athletics" graciously stated Head Coach Bruce Johnson.

The Shenango Women's Basketball team doubled up in their volunteer efforts, first going to Zion Education Center in Farrell and then to Musser Elementary School in Sharon. At Zion, they participated in outdoor activities with the kids and ate lunch with them. At Musser, the girls volunteered with their after-school program, where they read the kids "I Promise" by LeBron James and then joined them for a game of dodgeball. Head Coach Cimone Reid said of the experience, "We are grateful that we were able to spend time volunteering with the kids in our community. We get a lot of support from the community so anytime we are able to give back it's a great feeling."

The appreciation for the community was echoed by the newly appointed Brandon Padgett. "Putting others first needs to be and will most definitely be a vocal point of my mission, as Director of Athletics, for Penn State Shenango.  Community service is an excellent way for our campus and our student-athletes to show our community just how important they are to us.   I am encouraged by what has been accomplished in the past in this regard, but I am even more excited about what I know we will do in the future to put our community first!"