The Chugiak High School football team in Alaska has earned community acclaim for its commitment to service, recently drawing praise for a series of clean‑up activities along the Glenn Highway.
For the third consecutive year the squad has organized a highway cleanup, mobilizing roughly twenty‑five players from senior starters to freshmen newcomers, who spent the morning picking up litter and restoring the roadside.
Beyond the highway, the team volunteers at the Brother Francis Shelter in Anchorage, where they pack meals for residents and once a month treat the school to free pancakes, a tradition that blends nutrition with camaraderie.
Coach’s Perspective
Coach Roger Spackman, who has taught for thirty years, emphasizes that community service is more than a good deed; it is a classroom for life lessons that shape character and foster responsibility.
Spackman notes that the players learn teamwork, empathy and perseverance through each volunteer shift, experiences he believes will stay with them long after their high school careers end.
Looking ahead, the coach says he plans to continue guiding the team even after his final year in the classroom, confident that the spirit of service will endure as a core part of the program.