The University of Indianapolis Greyhounds logged 7,235 community service hours in their first year using a national volunteer-tracking system—and climbed to 12th place among all NCAA Division II schools for impact in the process. In a single academic year, these student-athletes didn't just volunteer; they reimagined what it means to be embedded in your hometown.
The scale of this commitment matters because it reveals something often overlooked: college athletes, especially those competing at the Division II level, are among the most generous volunteers in America. The Greyhounds worked with 37 different organizations across 84 separate service opportunities, concentrating their energy on civic engagement and programs serving children and youth. That wasn't scattered effort—it was strategy.
When UIndy joined the NCAA-sponsored Helper Helper program for the first time, no one knew whether they'd crack the national rankings. They didn't just participate; they made an immediate mark. The softball team led the charge with an average of 23 hours per player, outpacing every other Greyhound program. The wrestling team followed closely at 18 hours per athlete and made history by topping all Division II wrestling programs in total volunteer hours—a distinction that speaks to both discipline and purpose.
The breadth of engagement across UIndy's athletic programs is striking. Nine different teams landed in their respective sports' top 10 for community service: men's swimming & diving (4th nationally), women's swimming & diving (5th), men's lacrosse (5th), women's lacrosse (6th), football (7th), men's soccer (8th), women's tennis (9th), and softball (10th). Even the triathlon program ranked 10th in the national "wild card" category. This isn't one program's success story—it's a culture.
Beyond raw volunteer hours, UIndy has woven deeper commitments into its athletic fabric. Five programs have active partnerships with Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit that connects college teams with children facing serious illness or disability. Both tennis teams were recently honored with the Midwest Region's ITA Community Service Award, recognition that speaks to sustained, meaningful engagement rather than one-off service days.
"To finish 12th nationally in NCAA Division II community service in our first year participating speaks volumes about the character and commitment of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff," said UIndy Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Kim Pate. The ranking isn't just a number on a trophy case—it's evidence that these young athletes have chosen to pour themselves into the Indianapolis Southside communities that surround them.
What makes this noteworthy is the timing. At a moment when college sports often dominate headlines for the wrong reasons, the Greyhounds are quietly setting a different standard. They're showing that excellence in athletics and excellence in citizenship aren't competing values. In their first year on the national volunteer tracker, UIndy's student-athletes have demonstrated that you can win on the field, in the pool, and on the mat—and still find time to transform the communities that support you.