Arkansas Tech University student-athletes are national champions in community service for the third time in the last four years.
Wonder Boys and Golden Suns donated more than 2,500 hours and supported 15 community organizations during the fall 2021 semester. ATU ranked No. 1 among more than 300 NCAA Division II members in community service hours to earn the 2021-22 NCAA Team Works Service Challenge Award.
“Community service is a cornerstone of our athletics department,” said Abby Davis, ATU interim director of athletics. “It is a significant priority among all of our programs and helps develop our student-athletes into all-around people and prepare them for life after athletics. We are appreciative of the time they commit to serving in our community, and we are better as a whole because of it.”
Projects undertaken by ATU student-athletes during fall 2021 included community cleanups, youth programs, donating blood, a sock drive and food donations.
“Community service is very special to me because of its immense impact on me and my team,” said Holly Crutchfield, a sophomore member of the Golden Suns softball team. “I am grateful for the opportunity to use my time to help have a lasting mark in this amazing town. My team and I enjoy making an impact, and we look forward to continuing this tradition.”
Arkansas Tech previously earned the NCAA Team Works Service Challenge Award in 2018-19 and 2019-20. ATU has finished in the top five in the competition six consecutive years.
In all, NCAA student-athletes gave 98,589 hours of volunteer service during the fall 2021 competition. That equates to a $2.8 million impact on the communities served by NCAA member institutions.
Learn more about the ATU Department of Athletics at www.arkansastechsports.com.
