GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota won the NCAA Team Works Community Service Challenge with a 99 percent participation rate earlier this year and the efforts did not stop there, with the Fighting Hawks finishing No. 1 in community service for all Division I programs using Helper Helper this school year.
 
This year alone, the Fighting Hawks not only finished No. 1 in community service but also piled up 5,146 total hours of community service with an estimated economic impact of $146.833. This marks the fourth consecutive year UND has ranked in the top-10 nationally and is the first time the Fighting Hawks have finished with the top spot.
 
"The willingness and excitement of our student-athletes to continue to give back to the community on an annual basis is truly humbling," Athletic Director Bill Chaves said. "Wins and losses may not be remembered over time but to affect other people in a positive way will be something that lasts for a lifetime. We could not be prouder of all of our teams."
 
UND hockey and women's golf led the way for North Dakota, both earning the No. 2 spots for their respective sports in community service at the Division I level. Football and soccer also shined, finishing as the No. 3 teams for their respective sports for community service efforts across the country.
 
North Dakota had 11 programs finish in the top-10 nationally for community service, with women's basketball (fourth), volleyball (fifth) and men's basketball (fifth) each placing in the top-five. Rounding out the top-10 were softball (sixth), women's track and field/cross country (sixth), men's golf (sixth) and women's tennis (seventh).
 
The standings by Helper Helper were formulated by each team or departments' participation percentage, hours per student-athlete and the total hours by its top student-athletes.
 
"The relationships that we have and continue to develop with our community partners has been instrumental in allowing our student-athletes to give back," said UND Director of Student-Athlete Development Tyler Burmeister. "We look forward to finding creative and innovative ways to continue to support the Grand Forks community and state of North Dakota."
 
Individually, 13 Fighting Hawks from eight different programs reached the 100-hour mark for community service: McKenzie Burian (women's cross country/track & field), Carrie Carpenter (women's golf), Cassie Giddings (soccer), Kenzie Gullickson (women's track & field), Jannay Jones (softball), Colin Lavell (football), Melissa Leet (women's basketball), Abi McGlynn (volleyball), Jaden Norby (football), Kianna Novacek (women's golf), Claire Orth (women's basketball), Meghan Wilson (soccer) and Adam Zavalney (football).
 
UND TOP-10 RANKED PROGRAMS
Hockey: 2nd
Women's Golf: 2nd
Football: 3rd
Soccer: 3rd
Women's Basketball: 4th
Volleyball: 5th
Men's Basketball: 5th
Softball: 6th
Women's Track & Field/XC: 6th
Men's Golf: 6th
Women's Tennis: 7th
 
HELPER HELPER'S TOP-10 DIVISION I SCHOOLS
1. North Dakota
2. San Jose State
3. Towson University
4. James Madison University
5. Kent State
6. Georgia Southern University
7. University of Louisiana
8. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
9. University of Pittsburgh
10. University of Miami
 
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