FLORENCE, Ala. (November 5, 2025) – The University of North Alabama Department of Athletics totaled over 700 hours of civic engagement during its Civic Engagement Day, as student-athletes, coaches and administrators contributed to 20 projects in the community.
 
Some of the organizations UNA has impacted this year — and on Tuesday — include the Birthday Fairy, Shoals Dream Center, Community Action Northwest Alabama, a number of local elementary schools and Cramer's Children Center.
 
Additionally, the UNA baseball and softball teams partnered with Bank Independent to help the City of Florence Parks and Recreation department. Another notable project was beach volleyball's project with Common Ground Shoals.
 
"We went as a team to Common Ground Shoals to help kids with their homework and play with them," said Hope Dicken, a member of the beach volleyball team and UNA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. "It's awesome for us to give back to the communities that support us, and we are able to have a positive influence on young students."
 
The coaches and administration staff from UNA Athletics met on Tuesday at Turbo Coffee and dispersed into groups to visit local businesses and corporate partners. Each business and their employees were greeted with UNA posters as part of the "Purple Swarm" project.
 
"Civic Engagement Day reminds us that teamwork goes far beyond the field — it's about coming together to make a difference in the place we call home," said Anna Milwee Hovater, UNA Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Success. "Our student-athletes continue to inspire us through their commitment to service, leadership and community pride. We're so proud of the way they represent UNA, not just in competition, but in the positive impact they make every day."
 
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