Miami (Florida), Coker, and Oswego State have been named the winners of the 2024 NCAA Student-Athlete Community Service Award, recognizing student-athletes’ outstanding community engagement on campus and in their surrounding communities.
The NCAA and Helper Helper, a volunteer management and tracking platform, launched the competition to celebrate the positive impact student-athletes make through volunteerism. The competition, which ran from September to December, tracks both the total hours completed per student-athlete and the percentage of athletes who participate in outreach activities.
“We are continually inspired by the commitment and impact our student-athletes and athletic departments show to their communities,” said Stephannnie Harvey-Vandenberg, NCAA managing director of external engagement, strategic projects and special programs. “The dedication to service reflects the leadership and character we strive to cultivate throughout college athletics.”
This year, student-athletes in Divisions I, II, and III logged a total of 210,288 hours of community service — an increase of nearly 7,000 hours from last year’s competition. According to Independent Sector’s research on the national value of volunteer time, this generated an estimated $7.04 million impact in communities nationwide.
“At Helper Helper, we are honored to support the incredible community service efforts of student-athletes across all NCAA divisions,” said Krista Clement, Helper Helper founder and a former women’s basketball student-athlete at Michigan. “Seeing them surpass last year’s volunteer hours is a testament to their dedication to making a real impact beyond the game. We celebrate this year’s NCAA Student-Athlete Community Service Award winners and all student-athletes who continue to give back to their communities with passion and purpose.”
Division I Winner – Miami (Florida)
Miami’s student-athletes tallied 5,331 hours of volunteer work with a near-perfect 99% participation rate, averaging 10.9 hours per student. Their outreach efforts included:
- The Feeding South Florida food drive
- Supporting local after-school programs
- Serving as pen pals to local youth
“Community service is integral to the University of Miami athletics experience,” said Elle Mezzio, Miami Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president and women’s cross country and track and field athlete. “It strengthens bonds with teammates, other teams, and most importantly, our surrounding communities.”
Miami edged out North Dakota State and South Alabama, Towson University and University of Pittsburgh which finished second and third, respectively.
Division II Winner – Coker
Coker secured the Division II title with 7,574 hours of community service and a 92% participation rate, averaging 17.9 hours per student. Their top community service activities included:
- Hosting officiating and coaching clinics for youth sports
- Greeting elementary students at a morning drop-off
- Holding a trick-or-treat event for local kids
Coker Baseball at Butler Academy – Members of the Coker Baseball team speaking at College and Career Day at Butler Academy
“One thing I genuinely enjoy about Coker is the way we engage with the community and serve others,” said Kristynn Knight, Coker’s SAAC president and a women’s basketball student-athlete. “These experiences have shown me the importance of service beyond the court.”
Coker finished ahead of Georgian Court, Georgia Southwestern, Arkansas Tech University, and Texas Woman’s University which placed second, third, fourth, and fifth respectively.
Division III Winner – Oswego State
Oswego State won the Division III challenge with 3,890 volunteer hours and a 95% participation rate, averaging 7.9 hours per student. Their standout community service efforts included:
- A leaf-raking event for senior citizens
- Visits to elementary schools
- A holiday toy drive
Oswego Women’s Soccer Team
“Giving back is a core value of who we are as student-athletes, and we take pride in making an impact outside the playing field,” said Anthony Cascen, a men’s wrestling student-athlete at Oswego State.
Oswego State topped Salisbury, George Fox,University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and New Jersey City University which placed second, third, fourth, and fifth respectively.
Celebrating Service Beyond the Game
The NCAA Community Service Challenge reflects the incredible dedication of student-athletes to serve their communities. Their volunteerism not only strengthens local ties but also builds leadership and teamwork skills that extend beyond their athletic careers.
For more information on how schools can participate in future NCAA Community Service Challenges, contact Krista Clement at krista@helperhelper.com or visit Helper Helper.