BILLINGS — MSU Billings athletes continue to lead the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with over 1700 community service hours.
Since September of 2019, MSUB athletes have generated an estimated economic impact of $43,102 in Montana.
MSUB athletics was named a finalist for the 2020 Division II Award of Excellence in January.
The Yellowjackets are one of 22 schools and conferences that has submitted a bid for the award, including a $3k grand prize.
Kyle McLaughlin, senior track and field athlete and Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President, helped drive MSUB athletes to volunteer using an online platform for tracking and recording community service called Helper Helper.
The software allows users to create individual and team goals for community service hours.
It also allows teams to view available community projects within their area.
"Ultimately, we want to beat our goal of 1,800 hours achieved last year and since February. We are only 100 hours away which is amazing," McLaughlin said. "The culture of our student-athletes is becoming more service-oriented. We have so many different opportunities to give back and our teams and coaches have really embraced it."
With over 700 community service hours, the MSUB softball team has been at the forefront of community outreach for the athletics department.
"One of our team's favorite things to do is work with the community, especially when they get to give back to the youth or spend some time with the older population of Billings," said MSUB softball head coach Lisa McKinney. "Each activity we do impacts us as much as it impacts the people we are helping. It is great to be able to help the community that helps us so much."
SAAC is also running a drive to collect amenities like soaps, toothbrushes, and other hygiene products until the end of the Spring 2020 semester.
For more information, you can visit the msubsports page.
