New Braunfels, Texas - The members of the American Southwest Conference continue to engage their communities throughout the fall semester. The member schools have wrapped boxes for Operation Christmas Child, volunteered at local elementary schools, promoted cancer support events, and much more.
All four member institutions started the season by wearing green Texas-shaped patches in honor of those who lost their lives in the Kerrville floods. The student-athletes wear these patches on jerseys, during practice and around campus in support of those families and as a reminder to keep the community in their thoughts and prayers.
East Texas Baptist
ETBU teams have worked together around Marshall doing road side clean ups. Men’s Soccer, Softball and Volleyball teams have done Morning High Fives at the Marshall and Hallsville ISD Elementary schools.
Baseball hosted free clinics and also helped with the Miracle League of East Texas.
ETBU SAAC did a semester long coat drive for the Marshall ISD and the holiday season coming up while also putting together a canned goods drive for the food bank. Every team at ETBU took part in their annual Operation Christmas Child event and provided over 350 boxes to children in need.
Hardin-Simmons
In Abilene, Hardin-Simmons student-athletes across many sports have spent their Friday mornings at local schools. The student-athletes greet the kids as they are entering the school, giving high fives and encouraging them to end the week on a strong note. The basketball team hosted a Veterans Appreciation evening at their game in early in November. The veterans were recognized and received free admission into the contest.
HSU Men’s Soccer volunteered at local nursing homes to spend some quality time and play games with residents. Cowboy and Cowgirl Soccer combined for the Kickin’ It At Grape Street to host local Abilene kids for a free soccer camp. The soccer teams also volunteered ushering at Abilene Fellowship of Christian Athletes Fields of Faith night for the entire Big Country.
Cowboy Baseball has served the community by building modules and handicap ramps with Boots on the Ground Ministries, doing trunk or treat with Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, and helping with High Five Fridays at Purcell Elementary meeting kids at the door before school.
More than 100 student-athletes from all Hardin-Simmons team’s came out to host the 2025 Big Country Special Olympics Track Meet during Division III Week 2025. Head track coach Isaac Hamilton and his players led all of the facility needs and hosted the Special Olympics track events at the HSU track on Grape Street.
Howard Payne
HPU took part in Sleep in Heavenly Peace when their men's basketball team made over 21 beds. These beds will go to children in need who do not have their own bed to sleep in.
The Jackets continue to serve the local elementary schools by volunteering in the cafeteria, hanging out with the kids, help with free mini basketball camps at the school, ate lunch with them, and mentored them. The Hoops for Him Mission continues to grow as the basketball teams serve their community and each other through the ministry.
Mary Hardin-Baylor
UMHB Soccer put on a KICK CANCER promotion in October, benefitting the father of Jayme Dowell. Jayme’s dad, Jimmy, is a girls soccer coach and was recently diagnosed with cancer. The Kick Cancer event raised more than $5,000 for the Dowell family.
The Cru also hosted its eighth annual TOUCHDOWNS event on October 25th. TOUCHDOWNS celebrates athletes with special needs by incorporating them in a football game each year. This year, more than 140 athletes registered to participate in cheer, dance or score a touchdown at halftime. Several teams and student-athletes at UMHB all volunteered to pull off the event.
