Iowa State University Athletics
Service Trip To Costa Rica A Summer Highlight For Cyclones
05.10.2023 | Athletics
AMES, Iowa - Iowa State student-athletes are fortunate. They are blessed because they live in a community with an enormous amount of support for all things Cyclones.
The state of Iowa is without any major professional sport teams. Because of this, the magnifying glass on ISU's student-athletes has so much more clarity as they steer through their Cyclone Journey.
With a bright spotlight, Cyclone student-athletes and the entire Iowa State Athletics Department thrive on being reciprocal, giving back in a series of community service initiatives second to none among its peer institutions.
The Iowa State Student-Athlete Engagement Team oversees the school's Cyclones Serve program, annually coordinating community outreach activities that stretch throughout Central Iowa and touch a multitude of lives.
This past season, Cyclones Serve was a major success, as Iowa State student-athletes volunteered over 4,500 hours of community service work. Cyclone athletes don't just show up, they also learn WHY their service is important.
This summer affords another amazing opportunity of benevolence for Cyclone student-athletes, as 14 individuals have volunteered for a service trip to Costa Rica in conjunction with Courts for Kids.
The trip to Costa Rica will take place from May 14-22 and the following Cyclones will participate: Sadie Baich (soccer), Ashley Bengtson (swimming & diving), David Carr (wrestling), Corey Cabanban (wrestling), Mira Emma (soccer), Corinne Guist (swimming & diving), Morgan Kane (women's basketball), Mary Kate King (women's basketball), Makayla Maxwell (gymnastics), Lauren McConnell (soccer), Caden Schmidt (wrestling), Carter Schmidt (wrestling), Rachel Wilke (gymnastics) and Georgia Wimmer (soccer).
Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete & Letterwinners Engagement Lindsey Long oversees the school's Cyclones Serve initiatives.
On daily basis, Long, who will be one of the trip's supervisors, witnesses the incredible willingness and urge of Cyclone student-athletes to give back to their community.
"The importance of serving is so significant to personal and professional development," Long said. "An international service trip allows student-athletes to really experience something unique, and the partnership with Courts for Kids offers an opportunity where the athletes will be immersed in the community. The level of impact is why I am excited. We will provide an opportunity to connect a community by offering our labor."
An Iowa State contingent will be making its first foreign trip since 2019. The Courts for Kids organization works within communities to build sports courts, offering safe places for children to play and other benefits.
Many communities have built a revenue stream around the sport courts after completion.
This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore a different culture while aiding others was something Cyclone soccer star Mira Emma couldn't pass up.Â
"I'm super excited to go," Emma said. "I've never been out of the country. I think getting into a new culture and new environment, that's going to open my eyes to things I've never seen before. This is a service trip, and service is important to me, especially impacting youth in sports. It truly makes me happy."
Long has served on an international trip before and understands the potential impact it has on the student-athletes.
"This will change their life," Long said. "You get to witness so many different emotions by stepping out of your comfort zone. It will be life-changing."
For photos and updates from the trip, following along at the following social media channels.
Facebook: Courts for Kids
Instagram: @courtsforkidscostarica, @isuathletes
