2015 Arch Awards: St. Louis Community MVPs

Jul 25, 2014; Earth City, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long (91) signs an autograph after practice at Rams Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

These St. Louis athletes made exceptional efforts to better society and the St. Louis community during 2015.

As a sports fan, it’s easy to get caught up in an athlete’s game performance and use that as the sole basis for judgement of that individual. However, it’s also important to remember, especially during a reflective time like the holiday season, that sports have the potential to make a massive impact towards the betterment of society and the growth of communities across the world. While not every professional athlete is fit to take it  upon himself to give back to the community, there are many who choose to do so, and those players deserve to be applauded for their efforts.

To celebrate these exceptional individuals who are committed to embracing their roles as influential figures both on and off the field, we’re picking Community MVPs from the Rams, Blues, and Cardinals for the second straight year. Last year we highlighted then-Rams offensive tackle Joe Barksdale, Blues forward David Backes, and Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, and you can check out our tribute to those three players here.

Here are our St. Louis Community MVPs for 2015:

Next: Chris Long, St. Louis Rams