Student Association Update

Fresh from leadership training at the Adventist Intercollegiate Association gatherings in D.C., Union Adventist University’s Student Association came back fired up to keep making moves now by pitching in for one of the campus’s liveliest yearly highlights: the high school Soccer and Volleyball Tournament. Though Union’s Athletics Department and Enrollment Team ran the show, SA stepped in as crucial helpers, joining efforts to greet hundreds of young athletes arriving from Adventist schools around the area. Each fall, this tournament turns the campus into a buzzing center of excitement and team pride, giving student leaders real moments to live out their AIA-driven focus on helping others and building real bonds.

Over the weekend, SA members pitched in, lending a hand to staff, guiding guest teams around, backing up event helpers, while adding to that warm vibe Union’s famous for. Starting with dawn gym setups right through helping squads figure out where to head between matches, the SA crew stayed behind the scenes so athletes, coaches, and families got a seamless, lively, encouraging experience at Union. The event gathered players for fun yet serious matchups; volleyball clashes inside the Thunderdome fired up with tight plays and solid coordination, whereas soccer fields lit up with quick games, loud cheers, and heaps of team spirit. Students showed sharp talent along with strong character, living out Christian values not just during play but beyond it, too.

Yet the event wasn’t just about wins or titles. Between games, visiting teens wandered through Union Market, checked out campus spots, prayed in groups, and hung out with Union students, soaking up college vibes for the very first time. For high schoolers, this moment often becomes a first real link to the school, lighting a spark around maybe ending up here later on. “It’s not only about winning, it’s about belonging,” one SA member said. “We’re stoked to have these kids here, back them up, and let them feel the vibe of Union life.” Their energy, eagerness to help, plus constant support showed exactly why SA exists to build real moments for students and make everyone feel at home.

This event felt like a next step for SA members after what they picked up in Washington, not just leadership, but drive. Because their time at AIA stressed teamwork, getting involved on campus, and standing up for students, helping run this long-standing tradition gave them a real chance to put it all into action. By teaming up with athletic staff, fellow volunteers, and campus leaders, they saw firsthand how group effort shapes school spirit and deepens connection. When medals were handed out and teams headed back, the pride wasn’t only theirs. Union's SA walked away knowing they played a part, fired up for what’s coming next.

After yet another win under their belt, SA’s keen to keep making campus life better, sparking student action, standing behind school goals while proving to both new and returning students that leading at Union means helping out, pulling together, and getting involved.
By Job James