On Monday, June 29, Up2Us Sports officially welcomed 180 Summer VISTAs to the 2020 Up2Us Sports Summer VISTA Program. 180 VISTAs started their nine-week service term at 100 nonprofit organizations nationwide. Their term will end on Friday, August 28th.

15 of the 180 VISTAs have been serving internally at Up2Us Sports in various capacities. We are excited to have this group of ambitious service members help our team across the nation, which will in turn help us better serve our 1,700+ member organizations, 470+ host sites and 250+ coaches in the days and months ahead.

We wanted you to get to know the 15 VISTAs who have spent their summer helping grow the capacity of Up2Us Sports from within.

Name: Micalie Hunt

Age: 23

What city are you located in?
Tacoma, Washington

What department within Up2Us Sports are you serving in?
Summer VISTA Cohort Leader

What led you to want to do a service term, particularly right now?
Graduating in the middle of a pandemic made me reassess where I was at and what I wanted to be doing with my life. I was meant to be working at a summer camp in the San Juan Islands before pivoting to a more long-term career position at the end of the summer. When the camp was unable to open, I began looking for other meaningful ways to spend my summer. One of my favorite parts of working at the summer camp was helping campers achieve their full potential, whether that entailed reaching the top of the climbing wall, creating a skit to perform for the whole camp, or even having a meaningful conversation. Serving at Up2Us Sports allowed me to combine my love of sports with my desire to further youth development. While it might not have been the role I had planned for the summer, I was able to further the same mission I was originally drawn to.

What does national service mean to you?
I grew up in a small community where everyone knew everyone. While I've since moved, both domestically and internationally, I think the importance of building community through service is important. If I am able to give my time to make a country I call home better, than I have a responsibility to help out.

What is one thing you hope to take away from your 9 weeks of service?
I hope to be able to build connections with my VISTAs and gain skills in a management / supervisory role. In the past I have been in direct service roles, rather than supervisor positions and serving this summer will equip me with new skills that I can bring to future positions.

Did you play sports and did It have an impact on why you decided to serve at a youth sports organization?
I grew up playing every sport you can imagine - basketball, soccer, Australian football, tennis, gymnastics, competing in triathlons - before I chose to focus on soccer. During high school, soccer was my escape from stress. The field was a place where I learned to push myself to my limits and my commitment to my team forged skills that I have carried with me through college. Soccer taught me how to believe in myself, how to manage my time, how to make connections, and how to push through obstacles in my path. I wanted to serve at a youth sports organization because I know how much of an impact sports can have on an individual's development. I can see that impact every day in my own life.