The women's team put their efforts into refurbishing the facilities at Dinoaur Ridge in Morrison.

As the visible evidence of the Democratic National Convention fades away–the big tents are dismantled, the celebrities and national press have moved on–the volunteer work of Metro State’s women’s and men’s basketball teams left a less-observable but no-less-valuable mark.

During the week that campus was closed due to the DNC, the teams performed community service at different sites throughout the metropolitan area.

At the Visitor Center of Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison, the women’s basketball team sanded, painted and stained picnic tables, benches and other structures.

“The structures looked great by the time we finished,” said Head Coach Linda Lappe. “It had clearly been quite a while since it had been done, and it wouldn’t have gotten done had we not been there to help.”

“With 20 of our women there, the work went very quickly,” she added. “Our players did a great job working together, and (the people at Dinosaur Ridge) were very appreciative.”

On another day, team members worked with other student volunteers participating in Student Activities’ Metro Goes Unconventional program, including some from the women’s softball team. They lead bike trips for people with developmental or physical disabilities, riding on tandem bikes. (To read more about Metro Goes Unconventional, go to http://www.mscd.edu/~collcom/artman/publish/unconventional_twv6070908.shtml.)

(l to r) Player Lawrence Billings and Assistant Coach Calvin Tang load canned goods for distribution at the Jeffco Action Center.

The men’s basketball team, meanwhile, went to the Jeffco Action Center and distributed canned food for families that are in need.

“Our student-athletes were fantastic,” said Head Coach Brannon Hays. “The attitude, work ethic and enjoyment of helping were evident in how they went about their tasks.What normally takes groups three hours to do, our guys completed in 45 minutes.”

Hays said the team will undertake this community-service activity again. “There was a lot of fun interaction while doing some heavy lifting.”

The team undertook a second community-service activity during the campus closure, kicking off a mentoring program with the Lincoln High School boys’ basketball team. Watch @Metro for an upcoming article on the Lincoln High program, the Athletics Department’s second community-engagement program with a local high school.