PARKLAND – Pacific Lutheran's mission statement emphasizes educating students to serve and lead within their communities, and during the fall semester the 2015 PLU football program continued a 37-year tradition of doing just that with the Lister Big 5 Attitude Outreach Program.

"We are so grateful for another amazing year with the PLU football team," Lister Elementary School principal Kathryn Frazier said. "Lister continues to build on our mission of preparing each student to be college and career-ready, and when you mention college, PLU is the first one on their minds."

The PLU football program began the Lister Outreach Program in the fall of 1979 with the goals of sharing five key principles to a winning attitude for success, being positive role models in the children's lives and supporting Lister's academic goals while encouraging the kids to dream about going to college one day.

"It's a great chance for us to have a powerful and positive impact on these young lives," 2015 PLU football captain and Lister Group Leader Chase Houser said.

The ongoing outreach covered three months, with seven total sessions beginning with September's "Kick Off Assembly" and ending with November's "Final Week Celebration." The five main sessions each focus on a different topic: choice, comparison, confidence, challenge and caring. A total of 84 PLU football players volunteered during the 2015 season, with each serving a total of 14 hours for a grand total of more than 1,100 hours volunteered.

"My Lister experience has been incredibly rewarding, and it's a very special feeling knowing that you are having a real impact on kids' lives," 2016 PLU football captain and Lister Group Leader Derek Chase said.

The long history of the outreach has made PLU football players a welcome and expected sight at Lister. Players served in 16 different classes in 2015, and the program has impacted more than 26,000 elementary and middle school students since 1979.

"Seeing the Lutes in our building is the highlight of the year for our students and staff," Lister counselor Lauren Olson said. "These players are always respectful, punctual and responsible, and they make an irreplaceable impact on our Lister community."

While the Lister outreach gives the Lutes a chance to live out the PLU mission, it also continues their education and prepares them for their next service opportunities. It often teaches the student-athletes as they work with the children.

"The effect these kids had on me helped me grow into a more educated and compassionate person," 2015 PLU football captain and Lister Group Leader Drew Oord said. "I hope I taught them as much as they taught me."