From April 5-11, Penn State Berks will join schools across the country and participate in DIII Week. Each day we will cover a different topic, today we will cover community service. We will talk to Abbie Carr, who is a four-year member with the women's basketball team.
Over the years, the 12 varsity sports team at Berks have taken part in a lot of community projects. Ranging from hosting pink games, food drives and trips to the local food bank, pet food drives, Special Olympics, and many more volunteering efforts. All of these projects are with members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
In recent years, Abbie Carr has been volunteering her time and services the most for Berks. She has set up trips to the Helping Harvest Food Bank, traveled to the annual NEAC SAAC Retreat, among many other charitable ventures. Carr has done all of these things with a smile on her face and an attitude of wanting to help out anyway possible in the community around her.
Check out the Q&A with Abbie Carr listed below and follow her Instagram takeover on @BerksAthletics5
Major: Kinesiology
Career goal after graduation: Athletic TrainingÂ
Favorite Class you have had at Berks: No way could I pick one. Too many aspects of Kines to love!
What does being a student-athlete mean to you?
Being a student-athlete is a major part of my identity. Being able to do what I love everyday while completing at a collegiate level and earn a degree is the most amazing opportunity. Â
Reason you chose Penn State Berks to further your schooling?
I'm from the State College area and knew I wanted a Penn State degree. Berks was one of the few branch campuses that a Kines major could finish there in four years. I wanted the small campus experience with a welcoming community. Berks was the perfect fit!
Why did you pick Penn State Berks to play sports?
When I visited Berks, I immediately felt the family environment. My coaches, teammates, and athletic department staff deeply care about each other and do everything they can to make everyone feel welcome.Â
Why did you join the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)?
I love helping people. Within SAAC we have the opportunity to help all sorts of different people. We are able to help out the community, Berks athletes and coaches, and NEAC SAAC members. We also get to meet and interact with other schools at the DIII level.Â
Why do you feel that community service is so important?
As collegiate athletes, it is easy to get caught up in the hustle-and-bustle of our own lives. Taking a small part out of our day to participate in community service reminds us to take care of those who need the help and that there is always something we can do. The opportunity to play is a privilege and many people help us be the student-athletes we are, so it's is good to give back when we can.Â
What was your favorite community service project that we need with SAAC?
Trips to the Greater Berks Food Bank (now Helping Harvest) were always a good time! Packing potatoes out in the sun and food boxes inside brought us closer together as Berks athletes, while giving back to the community. My quiet freshman self-heard many stories of NEAC and NCAA tournament travel craziness. It always brought a smile to my face excited to start making memories that we would look back on and laugh at. Ashley Berry throwing squishys at me while packing food boxes will always be a fond memory.Â
How many TikTok videos does Ashley Berry do in a day?
A lot. Probably more than she cares to admit. I appreciate the random 4pm TikTok she sends us in our group chat of her dancing in her bedroom.😉
