From Troy University’s founding in 1887, we embraced a belief that we have a “heart to serve.” From our founding to today, we as TROY Trojans believe we have been granted the rare opportunity to make the world around us better and work for the benefit of our community.

We are fortunate to be a part of this TROY family, and I think we easily forget how we are surrounded by compassionate and hard-working people. In a day and age where there is so much uncertainty, Troy University must reaffirm its commitment to our creed of having a mind to think, a heart to feel, and a body to act. This community has the great power to act to create a safer and better place for all people.

For these reasons, a small group of staff seek to start a new initiative on campus of recognizing those who have a “Trojan Heart.” This project will be made possible by the efforts of the John W. Schmidt Center for Student Success, the Office of University Relations, Panhellenic Council, Interfraternity Council, the Student Government Association, the Tropolitan, the Hawkins’ family, the Chancellor’s Office, and my office, the Office of Civic Engagement.

I will collect sincere stories of good deeds done by TROY’s faculty, staff, students, and alumni. These submissions should name the person who has done the good deed so that a committee of TROY faculty, staff, students, and alumni can vote on the best submissions to declare the best nomination. The winner of this contest will get $1,000 to donate to their selected nonprofit.

These stories will show our #TROYTrojanHeart.These examples of good deeds and friendship will also remind us how lucky we are to be surrounded by great people.If anyone reading this wants to submit a story of someone’s #TROYTrojanHeart, please reach out to me at livingstona@troy.edu.