By News and Internal Communications

By Jonah Goldberg

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – The UTRGV Department of Intercollegiate Athletics spent the 2019-20 academic year rallying behind the Valley in a big way, and as a result has been ranked 20th in the country in total community service hours among NCAA Division I programs.

In addition, five UTRGV Athletics programs rank among the top 10 in Division I among their sports.

• Leading the way is the men’s soccer team, which led all men’s soccer teams in the nation with 120 hours of community service, an average of five per student-athlete. This includes 40 hours with the Edinburg Cares Food Drive. 
• The men’s golf team ranks third among men’s golf programs and 64th overall among Division I sport programs, with 144 hours of community service, an average of 14 hours per student-athlete. This includes 42 hours with the Food Bank RGV.
• The women’s golf team ranks fifth among women’s golf programs and 57th overall, with 134 hours and 27 minutes of community service, a department-high average of 17 hours per student-athlete. This includes 28 hours with the Edinburg Parks and Recreation Center.
• The men’s track & field and cross country programs rank fourth among such programs, with 114 hours of community service, an average of three hours per student-athlete. This includes 31 hours with the Food Bank RGV.
• The women’s track & field and cross country programs rank 10th, with 161 hours and 45 minutes of community service, an average of three hours per student-athlete. This includes 38 hours with the Special Olympics of South Texas.

Overall, UTRGV student-athletes completed 1,526 hours of community service this year, attending 63 events for 23 organizations. 

The baseball team completed the most total hours with 364, an average of eight per student-athlete. The women’s basketball team ranked second among women’s teams, behind only golf, with 150 hours, an average of nine per student-athlete.

“We are proud of our student-athletes’ extraordinary efforts in the community,” UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said. “I think these rankings help show just how much our student-athletes care about the Valley. We are always thankful for opportunities to give back to the community.”

UTRGV student-athletes spent a department-high 282 hours at Edinburg Children’s Hospital. And in 208 hours with the Food Bank RGV, UTRGV student-athletes helped to prepare about 14,500 meals.

Among the other community organizations served are the City of Edinburg, which includes Edinburg Parks & Recreation (224 hours), the Special Olympics of South Texas (180 hours), and the Edinburg Boys & Girls Clubs (136 hours).

Community service efforts are continuing during the pandemic, when possible, including the recent donation of more than $4,000 worth of food to the UTRGV Student Food Pantry. And assistant men’s basketball coach Luke Mackay recently led a virtual workout session for the McAllen Boys & Girls Club.