Derouin Named to Big 12 Spring Good Works Team

AMES, Iowa - Chrissy Derouin, a senior on the Iowa State tennis team, was named to the 2008 Big 12 Spring Good Works Team. Student-athletes were selected for recognition based on community service, academic standing and participation in a Big 12-sponsored sport.

"It is definitely nice to receive recognition for doing something that I enjoy," said Derouin.

Derouin has participated in a variety of community service activities. Most recently she has volunteered with children's grief groups in Des Moines which are run by the Academy of Grief and Law. The two particular grief groups that Derouin volunteered with were Healing Hearts and Little Hands. The purpose of these two children's grief groups is to help children deal with the recent loss of a loved one. Derouin and other volunteers helped these children deal with the various emotions that they go through following their loss. The groups also provide an avenue for the children to share their memories of their loved ones.

"It might sound like it was a depressing experience, but we actually played games with the kids and had various art activities for the kids to do," said Derouin. "So, while we were dealing with a sensitive subject, we were also having fun. The kids all looked forward to coming to the sessions."

Derouin originally came across the opportunity while looking for a volunteer project for one of her classes.

"When looking for different community service projects, I try to find something that deals with kids because that is something that is right up my alley and something that I really enjoy," said Derouin.

Along with her work with children grief groups, Derouin has also participated in other community service projects. On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Derouin and 37 other ISU student-athletes visited Ames High School to talk about King's legacy and the gains that ISU African-American athletes have made in the last half century because of the work of King. Derouin also visited the Ames Emergency Relief Project, a local homeless shelter, with many of her tennis teammates where they cooked dinner for the homeless.

Derouin will receive her degree in psychology from Iowa State University on May 9. She plans to attend Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., where she will pursue a graduate degree in social work.