RADFORD -- Highlander student-athletes are spending their free time giving back to RU and the surrounding communities. Before winter break, members of the softball, baseball, women's tennis, swimming and women's soccer teams participated in events including The Radford Elf Shelf, local food drives, and the Winter Wonderland Christmas for kids sponsored by Residential Life. Recently, the women's volleyball team participated in the 19th African-American Read-In at Christiansburg Middle School. The field hockey team spent their Sunday morning cheering on the Bulls and Panthers at the Special Olympics Basketball Hoop Tournament.

At each home athletic game, RU student-athletes have been and continue to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Each month's total is calculated and compared with other Big South schools' totals. The school that raises the most funds will be announced during the spring baseball tournament. All of the money raised will be given back to each school's local Make-A-Wish chapter. To learn more, email Kirsten Mosby at kmosby@radford.edu.