SMC women’s basketball, City of Dowagiac team up for fire hydrant painting project

Published 6:33 pm Tuesday, September 10, 2024

By Max Harden

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DOWAGIAC — The Southwestern Michigan College women’s basketball team traded basketballs for paint brushes Friday morning.

The team volunteered to paint fire hydrants throughout the Lincoln School neighborhood in collaboration with the City of Dowagiac.

“We wanted to come out and serve our community because the community always supports us in everything we do,” said SMC Women’s Head Coach Jay Jenkins. “We try to be strong in the classroom. We’re going to win on the court, but we want to also be out here helping our community as well, because they always support us in everything. That’s why we are out here giving our time today.”

Freshman and former Dowagiac Union standout Maggie Weller  was happy to be out helping beautify her community.

“It feels good to give back after all the community has done for me,” Weller said. “It’s nice to keep it looking nice and good for everybody who comes through.”

In just its second season of play, the team garnered national attention last spring when it advanced to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Tournament in Joplin, Missouri. For Jenkins and his team, volunteering in the community was a way to give back after receiving the community’s support.

“We’re bringing people from all across the map to Dowagiac,” Jenkins said. “A lot of people now know about Dowagiac because we went to the National Tournament. They ask us where we’re from and now it’s like they already know. We have to be more than just athletes. We’re trying to serve our community and be good stewards to everything we do. That’s why we always try to give back to our community.”

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