Posted: May 21, 2018

Webster Women's Tennis Recognized By ITA For Community Service

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association honored the Webster University women's tennis team on Thursday as the Gorloks was honored for their work in the community with the ITA Community Service and Outreach Award from the Central Region.

On the season, Webster's women's tennis team amassed 120 hours of community service hours from August 2017 to end of the school year.

Here is a list of the some of the community service experiences the Gorloks were involved in this past school year:

Webster Works Worldwide bowling with Pathways to Independence at Sunset Lanes - Pathways to Independence supports the development of skills that positively impact the lives of adults with disabilities who seek greater independence and social success.
Love Your Melon - Love Your Melon, which was founded by Webster junior tennis player Madison Watts(Rogersville, Mo./Logan Rogersville) is an apparel brand dedicated to giving a hat to every child battling cancer in America, as well as, supporting nonprofit organizations who lead the fight against pediatric cancer.
LYM Biweekly meetings (on campus) and Webster Works Worldwide (off-campus with LYM at Helping Hand Me Downs).
Working with Delta Phi Epsilon on making feminine care packages (on campus).
Working with Delta Phi Epsilon to make toy bags for the St. Louis Children's Museum and also assisting with the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference SAAC at Hope Lodge.
Helped raise money on campus at a Gorlok basketball game for LYM and Living Generously for the STL Children's Museum.
Delta Phi Epilson tabling for ANAD on campus and helped raise money for Delta Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation.
Held a variety show for St. Jude on campus and worked with LYM for a hospital visit for Superhero Day.
Assisted with Project Sweet Smile that was founded by Webster senior tennis player Jesse Steffens-Willis (St. Louis, Mo./Rockwood Summit) in October 2016. Project Sweet Smile continuously raises money to purchase bus passes, hygiene items, and clothing/health store gift cards to distribute at homeless shelters in the St. Louis area.
Benefit Concert Fundraiser, which raised funds to purchase year-long bus passes for transportation to jobs.
Purchased and distributed 300 bus passes to one of St. Louis' largest homeless shelters.
Purchased and distributed flowers, cookies, hygiene products to four shelters and two nursing homes on Mother's Day.

"I think volunteering not only helps us as student-athletes to live a more well-rounded life while in college balancing athletics and school, but it also teaches humility and the importance of giving back to our community," Watts said. "When working on campus with other students, it is easy to see the joy, even if it is for a short while, that helping out brings them."

Webster head women's tennis coach Martha Davis-Goldstein says that her team's volunteering helps her players connect to others with similar interests.

"Volunteer work connects you to others with similar interests, is good for your mental health and can help you advance in your educational and professional career and brings fulfillment to your life," said Davis-Goldstein, who led the Gorloks to its fourth SLIAC title this season and an at-large (Pool B) berth into the NCAA Tournament. "It's true that you feel better about giving a gift than receiving and I think this applies to community service as well. All in all, all of these volunteer experiences have helped shape the lives of these strong women on and off the court."

In addition to Webster, the other three region winners of the 2018 ITA Community Service and Outreach Award were Arcadia University (Atlantic-South), Skidmore College (Northeast) and Whitman College (West).

STORY COURTESY OF WEBSTER UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION