天美传媒

USA Collects 1,456 Books for Rural Library

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Posted on October 8, 2015

Joy Washington

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The 天美传媒 vs. Troy University football game turned out to be more than just a rivalry match. It was an opportunity for students to join a state-wide service project and make a difference

鈥淭here are children in Alabama who need books,鈥� said Ravi Rajendra, president of the USA Student Government Association. 鈥淭his game gave our students the opportunity to do something about it.鈥�

Students at the University recently joined college students from across the state to collect books for a bookstore under construction in Greensboro, Ala. A variety of books for both children and adults were collected. The USA Student Government Association鈥檚 鈥淏ook Your Ride to Troy鈥� book drive collected 1,456 books.

This initiative was done in conjunction with the Troy rivalry week, which was held last week prior to the USA-Troy football game. Students were asked to bring in five books of any type, and the first 100 students to bring in the books received a free bus ride to the game, a Jim-鈥楴-Nicks tailgate pass, a #BeatTroy T-shirt and a ticket to the game. Each of the second 100 students who donated the five books won a #BeatTroy T-shirt.

鈥淏ook Your Ride to Troy鈥� was a collaboration of a statewide service project spearheaded by the University Student Presidents鈥� Council of the Higher Education Partnership of Alabama. For the book drive, the University Student Presidents鈥� Council, which represents the students of Alabama's 14 public universities, partnered with HERO, a catalyst for community development to end rural poverty in Alabama's Black Belt region. As a non-profit, HERO provides economic development, community resources, housing education and affordable housing construction. When funding is available they also provide youth programming. 

Ravi Rajendra, president of the USA Student Government Association, helped organize the book drive.

鈥�'Book your Ride to Troy鈥欌�� was a service project based on school pride, and it shows  just how much Jags love South, and how much Jags care about improving this great state of Alabama that we all call home,鈥� Rajendra said. 鈥淲ith the book drive, I knew regardless of what happened on the football field we were winners.鈥�

Rajendra said the rivalry game was named the 鈥淏attle for the Belt,鈥� playing off of the Sun Belt Conference name.

鈥淛ust as belts support us in everyday life, the belt trophy metaphorically supports and represents the great traditions that take place every day at both South and Troy,鈥� he explained. 鈥淲e are so excited that ESPN鈥檚 College Football Live did a segment about the trophy.鈥�

鈥淎fter the win, I assisted Troy鈥檚 SGA President Heath Barton with unveiling the 'Battle for the Belt' trophy and presented it to our Jaguar football team,鈥� Rajendra said. 鈥淗owever, the big highlight was to join with students from other universities and collect these books for a great cause. We are grateful to everyone who donated.鈥�

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