Swimmers are often singled out for their individual achievements and praised for their solo accomplishments.When LSU swimmers helped with renovation efforts this summer at Lanier Elementary School, they  became part of a larger group.”We walked in with our swimming shirts,” said microbiology senior Shanna Spears, the swim team’s community service coordinator. “But everybody had to put on black shirts. Everybody was dressed the same.”The NBC show “School Pride” chose to renovate Lanier for its second episode. Similar to ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” the show chooses schools across the country in need of assistance.Elementary-aged children and teachers from the school also helped. “All the teachers we met were amazing,” Spears said. “They were working as hard as anybody else.”Spears, along with kinesiology sophomore Timmy Dasinger, biological sciences senior Kannon Betzen, kinesiology sophomore Audrey Lawson and communication studies senior Ali Sanford, spent the first day on multiple projects, including painting classrooms.”I thought this was a great experience,” Dasinger said in a news release. “It was really cool to be a part of this life-changing event. I think that this will be a great thing for the city of Baton Rouge.”Spears said she loved working on a surprise for the teachers. The show’s designer pulled a group aside and had them put together furniture for a secret teachers’ lounge.Spears said plans are in the works to help other schools independently of “School Pride.””This semester we are going to pair with an elementary school close to campus,” Spears said. “Each swimmer will go there two times a month for an hour to read and mentor to the same kid for a whole semester.”In the spring, the team plans to put on a swim clinic for inner city children. The team will possibly partner with the Boys and Girls Club of Baton Rouge.”We want to be able to teach them the skills necessary to keep them safe in the water,” Spears said.The team may also partner with Tiger Aquatics.”We have about 80 kids in all to teach,” Spears said. “If we could keep that going every spring we’d definitely help the community out.”Service has never been required on the team. As Spears puts it, “I don’t want you there if you don’t want to be there.” Coaches encourage service rather than require it. Sometimes, coach David Geyer will give the swimmers Friday practice off and take the entire team somewhere to volunteer.”I’m hoping this year … more people will be inclined to participate,” Spears said. “I don’t think people realize community service can be fun.”—Contact Katherine Terrell at [email protected]