Bobcats Give Back at Spring Day of Service
4/4/2025 10:11:00 AM | General, Student Services, Student-Athletes, Compliance, Bobcat Club
More than 50 Montana State student-athletes travel to local elementary schools as part of community engagement effort
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- In what is quickly becoming a highlight of the calendar, Montana State student-athletes participated in a Bobcats Day in Service on Wednesday as part of an effort to give back to the Bozeman community.
More than 50 student-athletes traveled from campus to Hawthorne, Hyalite, and Irving Elementary Schools where they read to students, went to recess, and even helped with math problems.
"The Bobcats Day in Service is so fun to be a part of," senior men's basketball player Sam Lecholat said. "Being able to go to these schools and hangout with young Bobcats is so special. Not only does it make their days, but it makes my day. Seeing the smiles lit up among all their faces is just so contagious. It is so cool to see some of the kids that you see at games in their school settings. Being able to connect with them and learn about their lives enhances the Bobcat community tremendously. Giving back that energy to them is so awesome."
Representatives from nearly every team on campus contributed time and participated.
"The Bobcats Day in Service is something that is super important to us student-athletes," junior golfer Maddie Montoya said. "To be in the community and help be positive role models to kids is an experience that brings so much joy! They are huge supporters to our athletic program and are very passionate about supporting all things MSU. Being able to have the opportunity to interact and help show kids what it means to be a Bobcat athlete is an experience that I will never forget. The community of Bozeman truly means a lot to our athletic program and we love to give back in anyway we can!"
Montana State structured something similar in October, sending student-athletes to Morning Star, Longfellow, and Monforton School.
"As a student-athlete, giving back to the community is important as it gives perspective," said Caitlyn Jordan, Athletic Academic Coordinator for Student Athlete Affairs. "Spending time with children who just want a student-athlete to play tag or show off their skills shows our student-athletes there is more to being an MSU Student-Athlete."
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