How Thrivent and Athletes for Hope Are Helping Student-Athletes Lead With Purpose
By — Front Office Sports
Posted — April 27, 2026
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Purpose has always been a defining trait in sports. The best athletes understand that what happens off the field often matters just as much as what happens on it.
That belief sits at the center of the Athletes for Hope University Awards presented by Thrivent, a monthly spotlight series that recognizes student-athletes and teams whose commitment to leadership, service, and generosity shows how sports can be a powerful force for good.
Behind the initiative is a shared philosophy between two organizations that believe impact extends far beyond competition.
Thrivent, a purpose-driven Fortune 500 financial services company that puts generosity at the heart of saving and investing, has long operated under the belief that money is a tool, not a goal. Through financial advice, investments, insurance, banking, and generosity programs, the company helps millions of clients build and protect their financial well-being while empowering them to support the causes and communities that matter most to them.
That commitment to generosity is truly unmatched. In 2025 alone, Thrivent clients raised and donated $464 million through the company’s generosity programs and volunteered more than 17.2 million hours of community service. It is part of a 120-year legacy built around the belief that purpose-based financial advice and generosity go together.
Readers can review the finalists and cast their vote for the AFH University Awards presented by Thrivent by visiting the official voting page.
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Athletes for Hope shares a similar worldview.
Founded in 2006 by a group of elite athletes including Muhammad Ali, Mia Hamm, Andre Agassi, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Jeff Gordon, Warrick Dunn, and Alonzo Mourning, the organization was built on a simple idea: athletes have a unique ability to inspire change. Today, its Athlete Leadership Council includes Stephen Curry, Katie Ledecky, Nathan Chen, Elena Delle Donne, and Gabby Thomas, all of whom continue that tradition of service.
Athletes for Hope brings that mission to the college level through its AFH University program and the University Awards. Launched in 2013, the program supports student-athletes as they develop philanthropic projects, engage in meaningful community service, and build leadership skills that extend well beyond their playing careers.
Participants collaborate across sports and campuses while strengthening connections with their universities and surrounding communities. Current AFH University schools include LSU, Southern University, Howard University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, American University, Bowie State University, Long Beach State University, Loyola Marymount University, and Davidson College.
Each month during the 2025–2026 academic year, finalists are nominated for their commitment to service, leadership, and community engagement. Their stories reflect the many ways athletes are making a difference: organizing volunteer programs, leading campus initiatives, mentoring younger students, supporting local nonprofits, and creating projects that strengthen the communities around them.
This year’s finalists bring that mission to life across campuses and communities nationwide. At LSU, women’s tennis player Gaby Rivera organized athletes across teams to welcome local students back to school through First Day Helpers while also volunteering at OLOL Children’s Hospital and supporting children with special needs through the Miracle League. At Davidson, Ryan Harris of the men’s track and field team has helped lead community initiatives through Ada Jenkins Center, bringing fellow student-athletes into service opportunities that support local families.
At Howard University, Kelis Armstrong spearheaded the Run Your City–Shaw initiative, creating running opportunities for youth across Washington, D.C. LSU gymnast Tori Tatum has volunteered throughout Baton Rouge with organizations such as The Walls Project and Girls on the Run, while Southern University football player Connor Perritt has worked directly with elementary school students through classroom activities and mentorship.
AFH University Student-Athlete & Team of the Year Nominees for 2025-2026
Toggle categories and click each nominee to learn more
Gaby Rivera
October 2025
Women's Tennis (LSU)
Ryan Harris
Men's T&F (Davidson)
November 2025
Kelis Armstron
Women's T&F (Howard)
December 2025
Tori Tatum
Gymnastics (LSU)
January 2026
Connor Perritt
Football (Southern)
February 2026
Jackson Rimes
Track & Field (LSU)
March 2026
Anna Gill
Field Hockey (Georgetown)
April 2026
October 2025
Gaby Rivera
Women's Tennis (LSU)
Gaby Rivera doesn’t just lead on the court — she leads across an entire campus.
The LSU Women’s Tennis standout organized athletes from across LSU to participate in First Day Helpers, greeting and encouraging local students on their first day of school. She volunteered at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, joined a CHAMPS reading visit to Wildwood Elementary, and brought joy and inclusion to children with special needs through The Miracle League. Gaby’s energy is contagious — and her commitment to service has a way of bringing others along for the journey.
November 2025
Ryan Harris
Men's T&F (Davidson)
Ryan Harris of the DC T&F team has continued to show leadership and consistency on campus. His weekly work with the Ada Jenkins Center to help them prepare for events with the children and his tireless work of getting other Davidson student-athletes involved in the community has been invaluable.
DECEMber 2025
Kelis Armstron
Women's T&F (Howard)
Kelis has not only shown leadership on the track but also within the Howard community. She spearheaded Run Your City - Shaw, where student-athletes at HU could get together with the youth of the community for a run club. Her focus to build and encourage the youth of Washington DC through sports has impacted over 50 children in this semester alone. Kelis’ willingness and excitement to collaborate with other universities in the city for service events is a testament to her leadership in the community.
January 2026
Tori Tatum
Gymnastics (LSU)
Tori has been active in the Baton Rouge community throughout her tenure at LSU. She has made an impact at organizations such as The Walls Project and Girls on the Run, and is a regular volunteer at OLOL Children’s Hospital, facilitating games in the activity room.
February 2026
Connor Perritt
Football (Southern)
Connor Perritt is an exceptional leader who intentionally seeks out opportunities to serve each month for both his team and himself. This month alone, he made two visits to Southern Laboratory School, where he led kindergartners in fun exercises and an engaging story time. His willingness to serve consistently depicts his commitment to making a meaningful impact in Baton Rouge.
March 2026
Jackson Rimes
Track & Field (LSU)
Louisiana native and LSU Tigers Track and Field javelin thrower Jackson, visited FLAIM Elementary and brought a physical education class up a notch by leading an enthusiastic group of students through a series of warm-ups and exercises.
APRIL 2026
Anna Gil
Field Hockey (Georgetown)
As a member of the Georgetown Field Hockey team, Anna has been a leader on and off the field. She has singlehandedly organized monthly visits to a local elementary school for CHAMPS and rallied athletes of various teams on campus to participate in activities benefitting the Special Olympics. From the Polar Plunge to a Special Olympics Play Day, she has led the charge in making an impact.
Student-Athletes
Teams
LSU
Women's Soccer
October 2025
LBSU
Softball
November 2025
Davidson
Field Hockey
December 2025
Howard
Women's Basketball
January 2026
LMU
Baseball
February 2026
Georgetown
Field Hockey
March 2026
Howard
Track & Field
April 2026
October 2025
LSU
Women's Soccer
LSU Soccer kicked off the year with an incredible service mindset, showing that their impact goes far beyond the field. In the month of September alone, the team has been actively engaged in the Baton Rouge community by supporting youth and adults with disabilities through BREC’s therapeutic riding program, bringing joy to seniors at a local senior living home, and standing in solidarity with breast cancer patients and survivors at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital.
LBSU
Softball
LBSU Softball is one of the newest teams to the Athletes for Hope University network and they kicked off this partnership immediately. Their participation in the first LBSU x AFH U event was vitally important to getting other teams involved. Following that event, where the athletes made over 300 sandwiches to be distributed to locals who are suffering from food insecurity, they utilized their time to spend time with students from the Long Beach Unified School District during their inclusive sports day with their Adaptive PE students.
Davidson
Field Hockey
For the third year in a row, Davidson Field Hockey has committed themselves to working with Continuing the Mission. Their consistency and excitement for the work that they do has not wavered and the staff and dogs at CTM are always excited to see them. Year after year they make a difference in the lives of not only the puppies they work with but the veterans who will be adopting these dogs.
Howard
Women's Basketball
Howard Women’s Basketball went into the holiday on a high. They spent the end of the year winning on and off the court. The team came together to make 600 PB&J sandwiches and over 300 baggies of trail mix to be donated to Bread for the City. Just days later they hosted 12 families from Garfield Elementary for their game against St. Boneventure. In partnership with Fight for Children, the ladies on the team spent time with the children before and after the game, signed autographs, and took pictures. This was an unforgettable experience for both the women on the team and the children and their families.
LMU
Baseball
The men of the LMU Baseball team teamed up with Westchester Little League this semester to work with the kids of the club. Members of the team went weekly to assist the coaches with skills practices and mentored the younger players on how to be their best. This partnership has given the kids of Westchester LL the opportunity to spend time with and learn from some of the most talented players in college baseball and is an opportunity that the kids will never forget.
Georgetown
Field Hockey
Georgetown Field Hockey has been a force in the community all year. As active CHAMPS athletes, they go into HD Cooke monthly to facilitate CHAMPS curriculum to the kids. These women are some of our most consistent and engaged athletes. On top of making CHAMPS visits, members of the team also participated in the Polar Plunge in an effort to raise money for the Special Olympics.
Howard
Track & Field
The members of the Men’s and Women’s Track & Field team at Howard University have been breaking records on the track and impacting the youth of DC off of it. These athletes created Run Your City - Shaw with the mission to make running fun and accessible for kids everywhere. With a focus on physical fitness and mentoring the children in their community, the Howard T&F team has gone above and beyond!
The same spirit extends to the team finalists. LSU women’s soccer supported several organizations across Baton Rouge, while Long Beach State softball organized food distribution efforts and worked with students in adaptive physical education programs. Davidson field hockey continues its partnership with Canine Training for a Cause, helping support service dogs for veterans, and Howard women’s basketball donated meals to Bread for the City before hosting elementary school families for a game-day experience.
Together, these athletes and teams reflect the mission behind the AFH University Awards presented by Thrivent: leadership grounded in generosity, initiative, and care for others.
Now, the community has an opportunity to recognize that impact.
November 2025
DECEMber 2025
January 2026
February 2026
March 2026
APRIL 2026