Baker University is full of opportunities for students to get involved with philanthropic events to give back to a number of charities supported by greek life.
Students, alumni and community members teamed up Saturday and headed out to the sand volleyball courts at Sigma Phi Epsilon and Delta Tau Delta fraternities to participate in the annual Spiking Out volleyball tournament in support of Youth Aids and more specifically, Douglas County Aids Project.
Sigma Phi Epsilon, along with Alpha Chi Omega sorority, had hosted this tournament for 11 years. However Sigma Phi Epsilon hosted Saturday’s tournament alone and was able to raise more money this year than in past events. The team raised three times more money this year than at last year’s tournament.
Along with the entry fee each team had to pay to enter in the tournament, raffle tickets and food were sold to contribute to the success of the event. The event also had support from several local businesses that donated money to the cause.
“This year I believe we have raised more money than we have any other year,” Parker Johnson, Sigma Phi Epsilon vice president of programming, said. “I think it was a pretty good success.”
With 14 teams that participated in the tournament, there was a lot of diversity in students who came out, along with members of the Baldwin City community who put together a team to help support the cause.
Many participants believed the tournament seemed to have a more competitive edge. The competition helped contribute to the fun atmosphere that attracted students to participate and support the cause.
Senior John Babb has participated in Spiking Out for three years and sees the tournament as a great way to give back to a great cause while also having a great time.
“I’m a big fan of the philanthropic events on campus,” Babb said. “Always willing to support. Overall I’ve enjoyed it every single year.”
Freshman Owen Lewis, another coordinator of Spiking Out, helped run the event. Lewis’s favorite part of the tournament was seeing students and members of the Baldwin City community come and support the tournament by not only playing in the volleyball matches but by watching the games, entering the raffle drawings and donating to the philanthropy.
“The biggest thing is that Baker is always there to care,” Lewis said. “No matter what, everyone is willing to drop a dollar and willing to do something to make a difference and help out. The students always follow through and contribute something.”
With the success of this year’s event and the overall turnout of students and proceeds, the men of Sigma Phi Epsilon believe the tournament will continue to keep growing and more money will be contributed to the Douglas County Aids Project.
