“A life is not important, except in the impact it has on other lives.”

These words, carved on the headstone of baseball great Jackie Robinson, could be the motto of every student-athlete at St. Ambrose. Whether it is coaching in community youth programs, serving meals and delivering food baskets to the less fortunate, or mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Fighting Bees step forward in a big way to make a difference in the Quad Cities and beyond.

“From my perspective, at St. Ambrose the number one advantage that we can provide to our athletes is community involvement,” says athletic director Ray Shovlain.

The reasoning is that, by getting student-athletes into the “habit” of giving back to the community while at St. Ambrose, they’ll stay involved in volunteering after their days as a Fighting Bee have ended and they’ve moved into their post-college lives.

It does seem that the lessons taught by Coach Shovlain off the court have taken hold. Jim Putnam ’01, who is attending law school at the University of Iowa, participated in Junior Achievement as a classroom instructor while a student-athlete at St. Ambrose. He has already contacted the JA office in Iowa City to teach a class in the program this fall. He says it is because his volunteering experiences as a Fighting Bee made such a big impact on him.

“It sounds corny, but the kids in those classes taught me more than I taught them,” he says. “It gives you a special feeling to know they look up to you simply because you spent time with them.”

Although a full-time student and volleyball player, senior Abby Browning, Rochelle, Ill., volunteers because she wants to make a difference. “Whether it’s reading to grade school kids or putting on a volleyball clinic, it is important to help others.”

“Community involvement really defines the true idea of what a winner is on and off the playing field,” Shovlain adds. “And from a larger perspective, these athletes are carrying out St. Ambrose’s mission.”