Pratt Community College Athletics Explores Partnership with Army National Guard

Pratt Community College (PCC) Athletics is exploring a new partnership with the Army National Guard to enhance student-athlete development, strengthen community engagement, and create meaningful collaborative opportunities. During a recent meeting on March 9, 2026, PCC Athletics representatives and National Guard officials discussed several ways the two organizations could collaborate to support both student-athletes and the broader Pratt community.

 

One key focus is increasing community involvement through joint events and initiatives. The National Guard expressed interest in participating in PCC athletic events, including the potential to host a “Veteran’s Night” during select competitions. This event would recognize and honor service members while also building stronger connections between the college and the community.

The partnership also provides unique team-building and leadership development opportunities for PCC student-athletes. Proposed activities offer preseason conditioning support, mock physical training (PT) tests, a collaborative 5K event, a mud run challenge, and hands-on experiences at a National Guard base. These experiences challenge athletes both physically and mentally while reinforcing values such as discipline, teamwork, and resilience.

 

The collaboration also emphasizes life-skills development. The National Guard plans to offer sessions focused on nutrition, financial literacy, healthy sleep habits, and mental health awareness. These topics help student-athletes build strong foundations for both athletic performance and long-term personal success.

The partnership can expand opportunities for non-scholarship athletes by providing structured training, mentorship, and leadership development. By working together, PCC Athletics and the National Guard aim to keep students academically motivated while preparing them for success on and off the field.

 

“The opportunity to collaborate with the Army National Guard brings a unique dimension to our student-athlete experience,” said Rachel Steinbarger, Co-Athletic Director at Pratt Community College. “This partnership goes beyond athletics—it’s about developing well-rounded individuals. From leadership training to life-skills education, these experiences will help our athletes grow not only in their sport, but in their future careers and everyday lives.”

 

Overall, the discussion showed strong partnership potential focused on student success, leadership development, and community connection. PCC Athletics looks forward to exploring how this collaboration can benefit student-athletes and the Pratt community.