ANSON PURDY OF
RHODES COLLEGE has been selected the SCAC
Character & Community Male Student-Athlete-of-the-Week for the
week ending March 14, 2010.
A senior on the men’s track and
field team, Purdy an International
Studies Major at Rhodes College and is also working on a minor
in Religious Studies.
Purdy founded a non-profit organization in August
of 2008 called W.L.P. Santubal Partnership. The initiative of the
organization is to help the town of Santubal, Costa Rica in
developing ecotourism projects and attracting tourists to the town.
The organization has raised money to help develop their
woodcarvings, which are very attractive to tourists and also
developing day or two-day trips to show tourists the town and
surrounding areas.
Purdy first visited Santubal, Costa Rica when he
was awarded the prestigious Rhodes College Buckman Internship. The
internship covered his costs to travel to Costa Rica and teach
English, work on banana farms, and develop a tourism program.
Purdy even started a club track team to give
proper coaching to individual's hoping to qualify to the Costa Rica
National Team.
Around Memphis, Purdy is very active within his
church as he teaches a Bible Study Class to first through sixth
graders.
He has also volunteered with Latino Memphis, an organization which
helps immigrants with legal and social issues upon arrival to the
United States.
Purdy is also part of the Mortar Board, which is
an honor society based around service at Rhodes where they develop
different programs to volunteer in Memphis.