DENVER, Colo. – Student-athletes at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs showed their commitment to community outreach this fall by earning second place in all of Division II for the NCAA Team Works Community Competition.

NCAA Team Works, which coordinates community service efforts at NCAA championships, and Helper Helper, a volunteer management and tracking platform, launched the community service competition to recognize student-athletes who give back to their communities. The competition, which ran from September through November, is based on the number of service hours completed and the number of participating student-athletes. Helper Helper tracks the school participation data throughout the competition.

"Community service continues to be a top priority for UCCS Athletics," said Executive Director of Athletics Nathan Gibson. "I am continually amazed when I hear the stories of how our student athletes go above and beyond to serve.  I have personally seen those impacts and know that our students are making a difference in our city, state, country and world through their commitment to service learning and leadership!"

UCCS Athletics tallied a total of 3,254 hours within 11 community organizations as they had a 99 percent participation rate from their student-athletes. Over 1,200 hours were spent with children and the youth community through organizations like the Alpine Autism Center, UCCS Family Development Center, and local schools as UCCS student-athletes dedicated an additional 1,546 hours to Make-A-Wish alone.

The Mountain Lions also donated 480 cans of food to the Winter Service Project Food Drive this fall and hosted more than 250 kids for the athletic department's annual BOOZAR Halloween event in October.