AUBURN, Ala. – Senior Sophia Groth of the No. 15 Auburn gymnastics team was named to the SEC Community Service Team for the third-straight year, the league announced.
Groth, of West Des Moines, Iowa, has been a key member of not only the team, but of the community as she has spent much of her time away from training serving Auburn and the surrounding areas.
In addition to this honor, Groth was placed on the Allstate NACDA Good Works Team earlier this month and was named team captain, becoming the first female student-athlete to lead the distinguished group.
The two-time All-American and 2025 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year has spent three years as part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and is currently president for the 2024-25 school year. Throughout her roles with SAAC, she has organized community service events for Auburn student-athletes and has represented Auburn Athletics at various conference and national meetings.
Groth has served as an ambassador and donor for Baby Steps, which supports college students during and after unplanned pregnancies so that the students can still finish their degree. She has helped put on the organization’s yearly gala as well as spent time with the student moms and their babies.
She facilitated and organized a toy drive for The Big House Foundation over the holidays, supplying toys to impoverished kids in the area. She spearheaded this drive two years ago and has continued to lead the efforts.
Groth has helped shop, collect and organize donations for the yearly food drive for the campus pantry that feeds students that have food insecurities since the drive was established three years ago. She has participated in the annual Read Aloud Day, going to local elementary schools and reading to students.
Groth has spoken at many Fellowship of Christian Athlete events for local junior high schools in the area as well as other universities in the state. She has worked with the East Alabama Food Bank, helping the organization pack food for those in need. Groth has spent time hosting the Macon County girls group as well as running a bible study for middle school girls.