News Summary
Augusta University Athletics has secured an impressive ninth place in the NCAA Community Engagement Impact Challenge, recognizing student-athletes for their dedication to community service. Since the challenge began, they have completed over 325 hours of service, resulting in more than $11,000 in economic impact. Leading the service efforts is the softball program, while substantial contributions have been made across other sports as well. Augusta University’s commitment to community enrichment continues, as student-athletes actively engage in various volunteer initiatives.
Augusta, GA – Augusta University Athletics has achieved a remarkable ninth place ranking in the NCAA Community Engagement Impact Challenge, a nationwide competition that recognizes the community service efforts of student-athletes across all divisions. This current ranking highlights the commitment of Augusta’s student-athletes to serving their community through various volunteer activities.
Since the beginning of the challenge on August 1, 2025, student-athletes at Augusta University have dedicated over 325 hours to community service projects. These efforts have generated an economic impact of more than $11,000 within just the past month, demonstrating the tangible benefits of their involvement.
Among the athletic programs, the softball program leads Augusta’s department in total service hours provided, reflecting a competitive spirit matched with a desire to give back. The NCAA Impact Challenge runs from September 1 to December 15, assessing participation rates and average hours served by student-athletes. Augusta’s interdisciplinary approach to service includes tutoring local youth, serving meals, cleaning parks, and providing crucial support to local shelters.
Currently, Augusta University holds the ninth position in the nationwide rankings for Division II schools participating in the Impact Challenge. This initiative has grown significantly, attracting numerous new schools this fall. Augusta’s student-athletes demonstrate a strong commitment to ongoing service efforts, refusing to slow down as they continue their work throughout both the fall and spring semesters.
In addition to this current accolade, Augusta University Athletics was previously recognized among the top 20 nationally for community service in the 2024-25 NCAA Helper Helper Service Challenge. Notably, this achievement marks the third consecutive year that Augusta has secured a spot in the top 20. Throughout the last year, Jaguar student-athletes contributed a total of 2,068 validated hours of community service, supporting 21 local organizations and fulfilling more than 900 volunteer commitments.
The participation rate among student-athletes in community service initiatives has been impressive, with 77 percent engagement noted—238 out of 310 student-athletes participated in various service opportunities. The athletics department offered a total of 64 opportunities for students to get involved.
Breakdown of the community service hours contributed by specific sports highlights their commitment: Softball led with 612 hours, followed by Baseball with 249 hours, Volleyball at 242 hours, Women’s Basketball with 219 hours, and Men’s Basketball at 185 hours. In a broader context, NCAA Division II student-athletes collectively logged a remarkable 199,537 service hours across 4,334 opportunities nationwide during the challenge period. Overall, nearly 54,000 NCAA student-athletes contributed over 610,000 service hours in the 2024-25 academic year.
Key partnerships for these community service initiatives include organizations like CSRA Buddy Walk, Tunnel to Towers, Habitat for Humanity, and local school systems, ensuring a diverse range of impactful projects. To encourage and recognize these valuable contributions, the Jaguar Team Service Award is presented to the team that accumulates the highest number of community service hours.
Overall, Augusta University Athletics takes great pride in positively impacting the community and fostering meaningful relationships with local organizations. The department’s ongoing commitment to community service highlights not only the dedication of its student-athletes but also the important role they play in enriching their community.
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Additional Resources
- Augusta University Athletics Ranks Top 10 Nationally in NCAA Community Engagement Impact Challenge
- Wikipedia: Community Service
- Augusta Athletics Finishes Top 20 Nationally in Community Service
- Google Search: NCAA Community Engagement
- Augusta Athletics Honors Student-Athletes at 2025 Awards Banquet
- Google Scholar: NCAA Student-Athletes Community Service
- Augusta Athletics Partners with Uptown Cheapskate
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Community Service
- Augusta University Athletics to Host Community Easter Egg Hunt
- Google News: Community Service in Athletics
Author: STAFF HERE AUGUSTA WRITER
AUGUSTA STAFF WRITER The AUGUSTA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAugusta.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Augusta, Richmond County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Arts in the Heart Festival, Westobou Festival, and Masters Week. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and Greater Augusta Arts Council, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare that power the local economy such as Textron Specialized Vehicles, Cardinal Health, and Nutrien. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAtlanta.com and HERESavannah.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Georgia's dynamic landscape.
