A Season of Service
During the 2025‑26 athletic year, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) football team distinguished itself not only on the field but also through an unprecedented commitment to community service. The squad logged 1,251.8 hours of volunteer work, earning a national ranking of tenth among collegiate programs.
Central to that effort was the Get in the Game initiative, a partnership with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) that turned a routine February registration drive into a historic campaign. By mobilizing teammates, coaches and fans, the team orchestrated the highest‑ever turnout of any college‑football‑linked donor drive, adding 252 new potential marrow donors to the registry.
The impact of those registrations rippled beyond statistics. In July, a compatible blood‑stem‑cell match was identified for a patient in need, a direct result of the expanded pool generated by UTRGV’s outreach. Leticia Mondragon, an NMDP account manager, praised the players’ influence, noting that their visibility encouraged many to consider registration.
Quarterback Connor Carrigan and defensive end Jordan Ford were among the athletes who championed the cause, recalling how a conversation with their coach sparked the idea. Their leadership inspired teammates and community members alike, turning a simple invitation to register into a movement that resonated throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
Beyond the marrow drive, the team’s service portfolio included a wide array of projects — from youth mentorship programs to local food‑bank support — collectively amounting to more than a thousand hours of hands‑on work. This dedication contributed to the program’s national community‑service ranking and underscored the athletes’ belief that leadership extends beyond the stadium.
The university’s athletics department was recognized with a Kona Ice truck as a token of appreciation for its role in advancing the NMDP mission, a small gesture that reflected the broader gratitude of the organization and the patients whose lives were touched.
Looking Ahead
Organizers hope the success of the UTRGV campaign will inspire other collegiate programs to embed similar service initiatives into their seasons. By showcasing how sport can amplify humanitarian causes, the partnership with NMDP illustrates a new model for community engagement that blends athletic passion with life‑saving purpose.