Randolph-Macon College student Davis Hitt ’20 first heard about RMC through Lacrosse Coach J.B. Sheridan, who recruited Hitt and encouraged him to visit the campus. After touring Randolph-Macon, Hitt knew he’d found the right college.

Hitt is a business major who is deeply involved on campus. His membership in Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, for example, is a vital part of his college life.

“Joining SAE has enabled me to meet lots of people,” he says. “It has also given me the opportunity to be involved in activities beyond the lacrosse field and the classroom, including community service projects such as The Big Event.” Hitt and his SAE brothers took part in The Big Event on November 20, 2016, rolling up their sleeves as they helped beautify the campus and the Town of Ashland by raking leaves and trimming trees. Now in its second year at RMC, 315 students volunteered to work on projects during The Big Event.

Special Goals
Each year for the past three years, Hitt has participated in Hockey for Heroes, a 24-hour exhibition ice hockey tournament that raises funds for disabled veterans’ organizations, including DAV (Disabled American Veterans), Wounded Warrior Project, and paw4vets.

The tournament takes place each spring at McMullen Ice Arena at the Naval Academy’s Brigade Sports Complex in Annapolis, Maryland. The event, hosted by Navy Youth Hockey, features 42 teams playing 21 consecutive games; players range from age six to adult. Local and regional youth hockey teams, as well as high school and adult squads, participate in the tournament, which kicks off with two games featuring the USA Warriors. Each participating team is challenged to raise at least $1,000. Amy Hitt, Davis’ mother, founded the tournament in 2013 and serves as the event chair.

“My mom got the idea from a 24-hour lacrosse tournament she had heard about,” explains Davis. “She signs up the teams to play, coordinates a silent auction, finds sponsors and referees, and schedules ice time. Each year, I help set up, collect donations at the event—and compete on the rink.” Pre-event online fundraising, along with the silent auction, helped raise more than $83,000 during the 2016 event. “It is amazing to see the event grow each year, and I always love to find out how much money we are able to raise,” says Hitt.

The best part about being a Yellow Jacket is the college’s supportive community, says Hitt, who plans to study abroad, do an internship, and continue his volunteer efforts.  “Everyone here wants to see me do well, from my lacrosse coaches to my fraternity brothers.”

Community Service at RMC
In 2015-16, RMC students collectively amassed more than 27,400 volunteer hours and donated $49,898 to various causes. Students in Fraternity and Sorority Life contributed more than 13,600 hours of collective service to the community and donated $1738 to various organizations and philanthropies. In addition, $21,000 was raised and donated to the American Cancer Society from the annual Relay for Life.

Three hundred and fifteen students participated RMC’s 2016 Big Event, a day of service to give thanks to the Ashland community. The Students Engaged in Responsible Volunteer Experiences (SERVE) program, in the Office of Student Life, is an integral part of Randolph-Macon College.