The University of North Dakota, Salisbury and Coker have earned the NCAA Community Service Award, which recognizes student-athletes' community service in their collegiate cities and surrounding areas.
The NCAA, which coordinates community service efforts at its championships, and Helper Helper, a volunteer management and tracking platform, launched the competition in NCAA Divisions I, II and III to recognize student-athletes who volunteer their time and services and their schools that support them. The competition, which challenges student-athletes to do outreach and get involved in their communities, began in September and ran through Dec. 15. The competition is based on the number of service hours completed and the number of student-athletes at each school who participated in outreach activities. Helper Helper tracks the data throughout the competition.
The total number of service hours for student-athletes in all three divisions who participated was 203,514, which, according to Independent Sector's research calculations of the national value of volunteer hours, would be more than $6.4 million.
North Dakota women's track and field and cross country student-athletes volunteer as bell ringers for the Salvation Army. (Photo courtesy of North Dakota)
"The NCAA is very proud of the outstanding work all student-athletes do throughout the year in their communities," said Victor Hill, associate director in the NCAA office of inclusion, education and community engagement. "Our membership schools have also made commitments to enhance and work in their respective communities. The three winners of this year's competition are outstanding examples of the great things student-athletes and their schools can do if you spend the time to make a difference in the lives of others."
"Running the NCAA Service Challenge is one of the most enjoyable times of the year for Helper Helper," said Krista Clement, president and founder of Helper Helper and a former Michigan women's basketball student-athlete. "Student-athletes and many folks who work in college athletics are competitive and amazing, which makes a challenge like this so great. It's great for the student-athletes, the schools and communities where they engage. We love supporting so many schools and making it easier for them to get out and volunteer in their communities."
North Dakota, which won the Division I award, tallied 3,230 community service hours, with 97% of its student-athletes participating, for an average of about 9.2 hours per athlete. They volunteered at Grand Forks Public Schools and spent more than 300 hours with Special Olympics programs in their areas. Finishing second and third in the Division I competition were Miami (Florida) and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, respectively.
"This is a huge honor to receive," said Luke Labatte, a North Dakota student-athlete in men's indoor and outdoor track and field and cross country. "It symbolizes the hard work and dedication of the connections that have been built to benefit our community. Volunteering and community involvement are a major part of the culture at UND."
"It never ceases to amaze me what our student-athletes do to give back to the community," said Bill Chaves, North Dakota director of athletics. "Winning the NCAA Service Challenge is a tremendous accomplishment, but I know that it is really not about awards but rather helping others through the platform of being a UND student-athlete."
The Coker acrobatics and tumbling team hands out candy at the annual Treats on the Streets Halloween event in Hartsville, South Carolina. (Photo courtesy of Coker)
Coker earned the Division II award with 4,884 hours served, which averaged around 11 hours volunteered per student-athlete. The school saw an impressive 99% of its athletes participate in service events that included cleaning up the campus; supporting the soup kitchen in Hartsville, South Carolina; and contributing to a community Halloween bash, where close to 439 athletes volunteered.
Arkansas Tech finished second in Division II, and Colorado-Colorado Springs finished third.
"In a small town like Hartsville, the community plays a major role in the support of our university," said Julie Hilliard, Coker softball student-athlete and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president. "As student-athletes, giving back to the community in various ways is important to strengthen that connection through volunteer work. I'm proud of my peers for all they have done this past year."
"I can't thank Helper Helper and the NCAA enough for providing this platform to showcase the amazing work Coker University student-athletes are doing in the Hartsville community," said Aaron Beebe, Coker senior associate director of athletics. "Strengthening our relationship with the city of Hartsville and Darlington County has been a point of emphasis in our university's strategic plan, and I can't thank our coaches, student-athletes and administration enough for prioritizing this and allowing us to develop those vibrant communities in our area."
Members of the Salisbury men's baseball team volunteer every Friday at the HALO Cafe, which serves those in need of a free meal in Salisbury, Maryland. (Photo courtesy of Salisbury)
Salisbury student-athletes earned the Division III award with 3,062 hours and 74% athlete participation, for an average of 5.2 hours volunteered per athlete. The athletes gave their time to support causes that included Special Olympics, the Sea Gull Century bicycling race, Hope and Life Outreach ministry for the homeless, and a holiday food distribution project. Oswego State finished second in Division III, and Bates finished third.
"What we do at HALO is an extension of what our program has been about long before my career with SU baseball," said Adam Tommer, a student-athlete leader and one of the members of the Salisbury baseball team who volunteered for Hope and Life Outreach. "Part of our core values and championship standards is to 'be selfless' and to 'be a servant leader,' and what we do at HALO exemplifies this to a T. As athletes and leaders on campus, it is important that we use the opportunities we have and contribute to a community that we all call home nine months out of the year. Regardless of the early wake-up call on a given Friday morning, there is nothing more gratifying than walking out of HALO knowing you helped feed 50-75 food-insecure individuals that otherwise may not have had a hot meal."
"At Salisbury University, our administrators, coaches and student-athletes are committed to positively impacting both our campus and surrounding communities," said Monica Polizzi, Salisbury director of athletics and campus recreation. "Our Sea Gull student-athletes have prioritized giving back every chance they get, and we look forward to continued efforts to engage with and support our Salisbury community."
NCAA student-athletes and their schools will begin the 2024 Community Service Competition in September. The competition is open to all Division I, II and III college and university athletics departments.
