BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Junior shortstop Ryan Bliss has been named to the 2021 Southeastern Conference Baseball Community Service Team, the league office announced Wednesday.
The conference names a Community Service Team for each of its 21 league-sponsored sports, looking to highlight an athlete from each school who gives back to his community through superior service efforts.
Bliss has not only become the face of the program due to his play on the field and interaction with the Auburn Family off it, but he has also pursued a number of community service projects during his time on The Plains.
Bliss' efforts in the community have been highlighted by participating in World Read Aloud Day at local elementary schools the last three years, including virtually during COVID-19. He has volunteered with Samaritan's Purse to help clean up the damage done by the tornado that devastated East Alabama in March 2019. Additionally, he visited and uplifted patients at Children's of Alabama and participated in a baseball day camp for the Miracle League of East Alabama.
In collaboration with the Hudson Family Foundation, Bliss recorded a congratulatory and encouraging video for students from Auburn City Schools, Opelika City Schools and Lee County School being inducted in the Legends Club. He has also helped the Jason Dufner Foundation stuff backpacks to be distributed to the less fortunate around the holidays.
This past summer, Bliss served on Auburn Athletics' Advisory Task Force on Inclusion and Race Relations, working with other members of Auburn Athletics to ensure a safe space for critical conversations, providing holistic education on historic and current topics, and generating sustainable action items that support meaningful change.
Bliss earns SEC Community Service Team honors
