Biggs and Santana-Rodriguez receive 2023-24 OVC Community Service Awards

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee State athletic department had two student-athletes receive the 2023-2024 Ohio Valley Conference Community Service Award, as announced by the league on Wednesday.

Justin Biggs of the men’s track team and Alondrah Santana-Rodriguez from the volleyball team, two of the twenty OVC athletes were honored with the award.

The awards, first presented in 2022-2023, are based on activities that took place during the 2023-2024 academic year and recognize outstanding student-athletes for the contributions they make beyond the playing surface, both on campus and in the community.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, Justin participated in multiple campus cleaning and service initiatives, including volunteering with TSU Freshman Move-In, the Titans Foundation 5K Walk, Nashville Rescue Mission, Second Harvest Food Bank, Wesley Foundation, a Christmas toy Drive, a drive for feminine products and taking steps in the field of breast cancer. In total, Biggs volunteered and participated in 22 events.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, Alondrah assisted with TSU Kid’s Day and volunteered with Read Across America, David Jones Assisted Living Center, Nashville Humane Society, Second Harvest Food Bank, Samaritan Ministries and the American Cancer Society. During the 2022-2023 academic year, she volunteered at volleyball camps and served at the Juvenile Justice Center, Second Harvest Food Bank and Samaritan Ministries.

OVC member institutions participating in the League during the 2023-2024 academic year could select up to one male and one female student-athlete from their institution to be honored. A total of twenty people were honored with the award this year.


“The OVC has always been about a sense of community,” said OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche. “We are pleased to continue to provide these awards to these outstanding student-athletes who give back to their communities.”