So easy would it be, for the athletes of Bushnell University to just hunker down, focus on academics and athletics, and "get through" a tough year like 2020-2021. So easy would it be to take a pass on serving others as a difficult year trudged along.
 
But "tri-athletes-when-it-is-convenient" just isn't the Beacon way. This year the student-athletes of Bushnell proved time and time again that being a champions of character is as important as any other aspect of Bushnell Athletics.
 
Perhaps 2020-2021 proved that character growth and community service are the most important part of being a Tri-Athlete. As teams created and participated in many opportunities to serve those who lost everything to wildfires amid a global pandemic, they were truly able to allow their focus to shine on others.
 
In partnership with Eugene's faith-based service organization One Hope, the signature initiative for Bushnell Athletics this year was the Sheds of Hope project. Athletes from multiple teams sacrificed time over spring break to build, deliver and install for two families to have somewhere safe and secure to store things on their properties as they rebuild from losing everything in the Holiday Farm Fires.
 
On Monday, teams assembled walls, doors, and roofs in the Morse Center parking lot during an intense day of work. The following day, members of the Bushnell soccer teams traveled into the heart of the fire devastation and had the privilege to install the sheds on-site. The teams were able to spend time and fellowship with the fire victims as they worked.
 
Student-athlete service was not limited to one week or one project for the year. Every Bushnell team commits to two service opportunities throughout the year and for most, that minimum is eclipsed early.
 
During Bushnell's Embrace the Community Day in fall, teams partnered with numerous non-profits throughout the region including CASA, One Hope, Hosea House, the Hope Project, Luper Pioneer Cemetery, Mount Pisgah, Hendricks Park, St. Vincent De Paul, Food For Lane County, Greenhill Humane Society, and many more.
 
Teams created Thanksgiving food baskets, collected gifts for an Adopt-A-Family project at Christmas, tutored, coached youth sports, cleaned and refurbished living spaces at the Eugene Mission and so much more.
 
Athletic Director Corey Anderson even got into the action, playing "Zoom Santa Claus" for children through a partnership with the Eugene Family YMCA.
 
Bushnell athletes choose to be Beacons for Christ in the community, simply out of a natural calling to be part of something bigger than themselves, not for the recognition. It speaks volumes, however, about the impact of the Bushnell Tri-Athlete model, that four out of the five "Character" awards that are given out by the Cascade Collegiate Conference, and voted on by CCC Athletic Directors, went to Bushnell this season. Both the men's soccer and women's basketball teams were named CCC Teams of Character while men's soccer player Ethan Crofts was named the CCC Male Champion of Character and women's basketball coach Chad Meadors was named the CCC Coach of Character.
 
Over 1700 hours of community service were done by Bushnell student-athletes this season.  

Top Ten Stories of 2020-2021
#10 - Academics Remain Strong Through Adversity
#9 - Tea Chatelain Qualifies for NAIA Championship
#8 - Track Qualifies Two for NAIA, Has Four All-CCC Finishes
#7 - Beacons Launch Two Sports for 2021-2022
#6 - Leadership in the Pandemic
#5 - Fortnite Takes Fifth Place in NACE Championship
#4 - Volleyball Qualifies for First NAIA National Tournament
#3 - Men's Golf Wins First CCC Championship
#2 - Women's Basketball Repeats as CCC Champs
#1 - Character Focus Never Falters