LAWTON — Cameron University’s baseball team started getting into the Christmas spirit by stringing holiday lights at Elmer Thomas Park as part of the city’s yuletide celebration.
Kalen Haynes, a senior first baseman and pitcher for the Aggies, said the light hanging project is one of several Cameron’s student-athletes participate in during the school term.
“It’s one of our community service projects that we really enjoy doing,” he said. “We put up lights on all trees, shrubs and the walking tunnel. It’s just what we do as athletes on campus.”
Each student-athlete is asked to commit to 10 hours of community service each school term. Earlier this week, several athletes, including those from the baseball squad, assisted with the AMBUCS pancake breakfast, which lasted from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“The biggest thing for us is the interaction with the community,” Haynes said. “There’s a sense that there’s something bigger out there, bigger than who we are as individuals.”
About 3,000 people were fed at the AMBUCS pancake meal, Haynes estimated.
Haynes, a transfer from Hesston College in Kansas, is in his last year of eligibility and is currently working on his graduate degree at Cameron.
Cameron Athletic Director Jim Jackson said the athletes have a goal of 2,500 hours of community service each school term “doing various things” which might include changing a person’s tire to hanging Christmas lights.
In the past, the men’s basketball team has spent time at elementary schools mentoring youngsters and the golf teams have worked to benefit the Lawton Food Bank. In addition, the varsity tennis teams hold a fun festival with games for students the week before finals.
“We think it’s important to teach the kids (student-athletes), whether they settle in Lawton, Dallas or LA, the importance of helping your community. We want them to understand the need to help others regardless of where you are. There are always needs out there that need to be fulfilled,” Jackson said.
Lawton residents will call the athletic department asking if the athletes can help with group or personal projects.
“We might have an older person call and ask if we could send a couple of guys over to move a couch and we’ll do it,” Jackson said.
Cameron baseball coach Kyle Williams praised the team’s effort for hanging the holiday lights and commended his players for getting involved in a community project.
“It’s always a good thing to get out in the community and help people get stuff done. We have some strength in numbers and strong backs and whenever we can help that’s something we want to do,” he said.
The 40-member baseball team spent seven hours at the park hanging Christmas lights.
“This teaches them it’s about more than themselves and to be part of a community that is bigger. Obviously being a college athlete they’re able-bodied and they can do things others can’t. We want to teach them that sense of being a servant to people around them,” Williams said.