INDIANAPOLIS – On the back of its student-athletes' unceasing contributions to the Greater Salisbury region, the Salisbury University Department of Athletics and Campus Recreation was awarded its first
NCAA Community Service Award for Division III on Wednesday morning. The honor, presented in conjunction with
Helper Helper to one institution each at the Division I, II, and III levels, recognizes programs whose student-athletes most effectively make a difference in their communities.
"We at Salisbury University Athletics are honored to be recognized by the NCAA for this prestigious honor," said SU Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation
Monica Polizzi. "We take tremendous pride in our efforts to serve and engage with our campus, our city, and beyond. I am immensely proud of our student-athletes and coaches for prioritizing service to others and making an impact across a community that does so much to support us in return."
Using the Helper Helper platform, institutions tracked the number of service hours completed and the number of student-athletes who participated in charitable activities from the beginning of September through December 15. Salisbury, who beat out Oswego State and Bates for the top prize in Division III, saw its student-athletes log 3,062 hours with a 74 percent athlete participation rate, good for 5.2 hours volunteered per capita.
Sea Gull student-athletes supported a wide variety of organizations during the fall semester, including but not limited to Special Olympics Maryland Lower Shore, the Sea Gull Century bicycle race, Hope and Life Outreach (HALO) ministry for the homeless, and holiday food distribution projects.
"What we do at HALO is an extension of what our program has been about long before my career," said
Adam Tommer of the Sea Gull baseball team in the NCAA's release. "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."
The University of North Dakota won the Community Service Award for Division I, while the top prize in Division II went to Coker University in South Carolina. Per the NCAA, its institutions logged a total of 203,514 service hours across all three divisions, totaling more than $6.4 million in contributions according to research calculations from Independent Sector.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football and men's and women's swimming, and the Coastal Lacrosse Conference for men's lacrosse. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 23 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 197 conference championships, and 45 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
