Community involvement is very important to the Athletics program at Rock Valley College. That is why our coaches strive to instill the importance of community to each and every student-athlete at RVC. Below you will read about and see some of the highlights of the community events in which the men's basketball team has participated in recent years.

Student of Color Summit

Rock Valley College hosted a Student of Color Summit on September 9, 2011. The goal? Building a community between minority students on a college campus. The summit provided an opportunity to teach students more about leadership and introduce them to some ideas of obstacles they may find in school and how they can overcome those obstacles. RVC men's basketball player Katonka Friar attended the summit and gave his thoughts to Fox 39 in an interview (click below to watch the segment).

Special Needs Clinic 2012

For the third year in a row, members of the men's and women's basketball teams came together to host a basketball clinic for persons with special needs. Participants learned basic fundamentals from the Golden Eagles' players and all of the clinic participants were invited to a Golden Eagles' game.

Deric Branch and Katonka Friar along with the women's basketball student athlete's assist in a passing drill.

Silver Chalice 

Members of the RVC men's basketball team, including Deric Branch (pictured below) helped out at the Silver Chalice Health Care Initiative event.

Going to College Coaches Clinic

Former RVC head coach Julian Springer spoke along with Chicago Bulls Hall of Famer Bob Love at the first annual Going to College Coaches Clinic on June 19, 2011.

.

Concert for Kidz

Glen Curry (pictured right), Terrell Williams (pictured middle), and former head coach Julian Springer volunteered their time at Concert for Kidz in Washington Park on June 18, 2011.

Rockford Sharefest

Leandre Harmon (first photo below), Deric Branch (second photo below), and former RVC head coach Julian Springer helped renovate West Middle School as part of Rockford Sharefest on June 17, 2011.

Special Needs Basketball Clinic 2010

For the second year in a row, members of the men's and women's basketball teams came together to host a basketball clinic for persons with special needs. This year's event was held on November 20, 2010. Participants learned basic fundamentals from the Golden Eagles' players and all of the clinic participants were invited to a Golden Eagles' game.

Silver Chalice Black Healthcare Challenge

On September 18, 2010, the RVC women's and men's basketball teams helped out at The Black Healthcare Initiative Coalition, a free health fair that included screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, vision, and hearing as well as for organ, tissue and bone marrow donation. Other activities included line dancing, aerobics, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament and seminar on the new health care reform law given by the American Association of Retired Persons.

Habitat for Humanity

On September 11, 2010, the RVC women's and men's basketball teams worked together to landscape and clean-up at five new homes in the Rockford area.

Special Needs Basketball Clinic

On October 31, 2009, members of the men's and women's basketball teams came together to host a basketball clinic for persons with special needs. There were over 32 participants who learned basic fundamentals from the Golden Eagles' players. All of the clinic participants were invited back for the November 12 home games where they were honored at half time of the women's game.

Adopt-A-Highway

On October 31, 2009, the men's and women's basketball teams came together again to clean a stretch of highway recently adopted by the RVC Athletics program (on Riverside from Perryville to the I-90 interchange). RVC athletes will do four pick-ups annually, and this was the first.