BATON ROUGE — LSU senior pitcher Clay Dirks has been named to the Southeastern Conference Baseball Community Service Team by the SEC office in Birmingham, Ala.
The community service designation is the second for Dirks, as he was also named to the team in 2006.
Dirks, a left-hander from Hernando, Miss., is a member of the LSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representing the baseball team. Among his many community service activities was his participation in the ALS Walk, helping raise funds for the treatment of Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He also spoke at Northeast Elementary School for “Guys Read,” an event encouraging boys to read.
Dirks delivered a motivational speech to troubled students at Glen Oaks Middle School that encouraged them to take the right path to achieve their goals. He participated in the Halloween BOOzar, playing catch with local kids as well as signing autographs and distributing candy.
Dirks, a 2005 all-SEC performer who won 26 games in his collegiate career, spearheaded the LSU Christmas Toy Drive for the baseball team, raising money for their “adopted” underprivileged little boy. Dirks presented clothes and toys to the child at LSU’s Christmas program.
The SEC sponsors Community Service Teams for all 20 league-sponsored sports. The Community Service Team looks to highlight an athlete from each school who gives back to his/her community in superior service efforts.
The rest of the 2007 SEC Baseball Community Service Team follows:
Emeel Salem, Alabama
Salem has logged more than 200 hours during his Alabama baseball career in various community service projects. With his leadership, the UA baseball team won the Athletic Department’s Community Service Award in 2005 and 2006. Salem and teammate Del Howell read a selection of Dr. Seuss books to Mrs. Debbie Siemers kindergarten class at Taylorville Primary School during Dr. Seuss week. Also read to children at Oakdale Elementary School and Oak Hill School. Read The Christmas Story to children at the UA Recreation Center. He has repeatedly talked to middle school and high school kids about staying drug free Spoken to a number of middle school and high school kids about the importance of teamwork (Tuscaloosa Academy, Paul W. Bryant HS, Holt Elementary School. Also spoke to various FCA groups at Chapel Hill Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa County HS and Mountain Brook HS (his alma mater). Participated in Halloween Extravaganza, as the UA Athletic Department provided a safe environment for kids to Trick-or-Treat on Halloween night.
Brandon Barr, Arkansas
Barr twice visited veteran homes around the Northwest Arkansas area. He is also a member of SAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee). Barr spent this past Thanksgiving at a retirement home in Fayetteville serving dinner. Barr was twice named to the Lon Farrell Academic Honor Roll with a 3.0 GPA or better. Barr actually finished his college degree in business administration with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Bruce Edwards, Auburn
Edwards has been very active in the Auburn community since arriving on campus four years ago. He has been a motivational and good sportsmanship speaker at Dean Road Elementary School. He also helped with the Hurricane Katrina Donation Drive sponsored by the Red Cross and has spent time reading to students at day care centers around the Auburn area. Edwards has also made visits to St. Jude’s Hospital where he has given out gifts of mini-bats and posters to the children. and has helped stock shelves at the East Alabama Food Bank.
Matt LaPorta, Florida
LaPorta is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a two-time participant in the Gator Dugout Club’s Home Run Derby, which benefits Children’s Miracle Network. He makes visits to the pediatric ward at Shands Medical Plaza and he participated in the 2006 FYF Student-Athlete Panel at the University of Florida. LaPorta delivered shoes to underprivileged children in the Gainesville area as part of the Gator Tracks shoe drive sponsored by the University of Florida Athletic Association. He frequently visits area schools to speak as part of the Florida Alliance program and spent a week during the summer of 2005 helping with Hurricane Charley relief efforts. He works with youth baseball teams as part of Global Baseball organization.
Adam McDaniel, Georgia
McDaniel is a 2006 Habitat for Humanity Volunteer and a 2005 Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort Volunteer. He volunteered at the 2004-05 Thanksgiving Dinners for Barrow Elementary School and with Operation Christmas and Adopt-A-Family for Christmas 2004. McDaniel worked UGA Baseball Clinics in 2004-05 and is tutor for Learning Disable Student at Tapp Middle School. He volunteered at Calvary Children’s Home in 2004 and is the 2007 LOWE’s Senior CLASS Award Nominee. McDaniel has been a member of the Student-Athlete Academic Roundtable since 2003, recognized for his contributions and consistent excellence to the group as the 2006 honoree for baseball. He is a member of two College World Series Teams (2004, 2006).
Andrew Albers, Kentucky
Albers participated in the Special Olympics in Lexington and has spent time visiting elementary schools. He spends time talking and mentoring area children and participated in a coaches clinic with hundreds of area youth baseball coaches. Albers was the valedictorian of his high school class and served as high school class president. He was a four-year member of the high school student government, and now serves as UK team leader. Albers once spent several hours giving an impromptu campus tour to youth baseball players.
JoJo Tann, Ole Miss
Tann has participated in several community service projects for the Rebels. He is active in Student Athlete Advisory Committee and participates in Reading With The Rebels program. Tann was active in conducting a canned food drive for the Oxford Food Pantry as well as being a part of Toys for Tots. He also visited St. Judes Children’s Hospital and was active in the Stewpot Food Pantry in Jackson, Miss.
Justin Pigott, Mississippi State
Piggott is a volunteer with the annual MSU Halloween Carnival conducted on campus for area youth. He participated in a reading program for youth at MSU’s Aiken Village Preschool. Piggott also assisted with food delivery to local Starkville area residents in the M-Club’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. He is a frequent speaker at Fellowship of Christian Athletes events in the Starkville community and served as a pitching instructor for a fall baseball travel team of nine-year olds.
Phil Disher, South Carolina
Disher, a catcher for the Gamecocks, serves as a volunteer for the Harvest Hope Food Bank as well as The Ray Tanner Foundation. In addition, the junior from Aiken, S.C., is also a Wood Elementary Education Day Volunteer.
Aaron Everett, Tennessee
Everett took part in multiple visits to local hospitals, including three trips to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. He participated in the “Friends of the Smokies” event and instructed children at the Lakeshore Baseball Clinic. He assisted with Knoxville’s “Race For The Cure” and took part in a Volunteer Athletic & Scholarship Fund (VASF) autograph session. Everett spoke to students at Friendsville Elementary School and assisted in “Buddy’s Race Against Cancer”. He delivered holiday food to the Manna House food pantry and helped purchase and then deliver toys and supplies to the Mission of Hope during the holidays Everett also participated in UT’s April Play Day.
Carter Hawkins, Vanderbilt
Hawkins volunteered at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital from 2003-2007. He visits and participates in holiday parties for pediatric patients. Hawkins was a member of the Dean?s List in Fall 2003, Fall 2005, Spring 2006, Fall 2007, Spring 2007. He was also a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. He received the Vanderbilt Baseball Charlie Hawkins Award in 2006 for the most inspirational player as voted by teammates. Hawkins was the Vanderbilt Student Athlete of the Month in May 2007 and is the baseball representative on the 2006-2007 Student Athlete Advisory Council.