Arkansas Tech University is the NCAA Division II national leader in community service for a second consecutive year.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association announced Thursday, Jan. 16, that ATU student-athletes donated 5,706 volunteer hours during the fall 2019 NCAA Team Works community service competition.
That was most among the more than 300 members of NCAA Division II.
One hundred percent of Golden Suns and Wonder Boys student-athletes participated in the volunteer efforts, which benefited 15 local non-profit organizations and community events such as Tech-O-Ween and the Paint the Town Green and Gold festival.
“This is a testament to our student-athletes, our staff and our university,” said Abby Davis, ATU interim director of athletics and head tennis coach. “Our mission is service and community relationships, and we take that to heart in athletics. Our student-athletes and staff make the time to make service a priority. I’m very proud of them for making the effort and getting this done again this year.”
Volunteer hours during the annual competition are tracked through the Helper Helper app. Data provided by the app reveals that the economic impact of community service by ATU student-athletes from July 1, 2019, through mid-January 2020 was approximately $150,000.
“We talk from day one about how important it is to be a role model, to be seen and to learn how to interact with others,” said Davis. “That will help our student-athletes as they go through life and become leaders of their own. We hope the experience our student-athletes have here helps shape that and makes service something they want to continue to be a part of as a young professional.”
Learn more about ATU athletics at www.arkansastechsports.com.
