A Culture of Service
The Emporia State University women's soccer squad has added another chapter to its storied legacy, capturing its eighth national community service championship within a six-year span and securing back-to-back titles.
Their volunteer work topped 7,100 hours, propelling the university to 32nd place in the 2025-26 NCAA Helper Helper Report and underscoring a campus-wide commitment to civic engagement.
The Helper Helper Service Challenge, a national competition that evaluates athletic departments on service impact, placed the Hornets' women's soccer team at the summit of its divisional rankings.
Across the university, 328 student-athletes participated in nearly 30 outreach activities, contributing to a system-wide total of 58,000 athletes who generated 637,205 service hours.
Coach Jane Grimly-Gunn highlighted the team's ethos, noting that the championship reflects a culture where service is woven into everyday life.
Additional athletic programs also earned notice, with the Hornet softball team ranking seventh among Division II women's sports and football receiver Taelen Laird named among the top three male individuals in Division II.