Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Athletics Achieves National Accolades, Record-Setting Year in Community Service
6/9/2026 11:00:00 AM | General, Our Stories, Student-Athlete Leadership & Development
Six Chippewa teams rank among the nation’s top 10 schools in total community service hours in 2025-26; CMU Athletics sets school records for community service hours and economic impact in Mount Pleasant.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Central Michigan Athletics ranked No. 19 nationally as an athletic department, and six teams ranked among the nation's top 10 programs in community service as the Chippewas set school records for total service hours and economic impact during the 2025-26 academic year. The Chippewas accumulated 5,314 community service hours, translating into an all-time best $184,887 in economic impact for the Greater Mount Pleasant community.
CMU Softball ranked No. 3 in the nation for most community service hours among all women's programs and No. 1 among all NCAA Division softball programs. Other top 10 programs in their respective sports include lacrosse (No. 3), soccer (No. 5), gymnastics (No. 6), field hockey (No. 9), and women's golf (No. 19). Helper Helper, a community service app, calculated the survey based on the percentage of student-athletes who have participated and the average number of hours each student-athlete volunteered.
Central Michigan also ranked No. 2 in the Mid-American Conference in community service hours.
All 17 Chippewa athletics teams participated in the Mount Pleasant community, and a total of 366 student-athletes volunteered in some way. Top benefitting organizations included Community Church, PEAK After-School Program, and Strickler Center: Clothing INC and Care Store.
"Our community service initiatives continue to expand," Zyzelewski Family Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan said. "These exceptional numbers are indicative of the type of student-athletes we have at Central Michigan. We are extremely proud of what our student-athletes accomplished in the Mount Pleasant community this year. They have made a tremendous impact in a variety of local areas, including the civic and community realm, the education sector, and children and youth."
"All of these activities enhance the lives of our student-athletes and better prepare them for life after CMU."
Central Michigan Athletics was fortunate to secure a $350,000 donation for its newly created EmpowHER leadership program. The inaugural National Girls & Women in Sports Week Brunch was a success with 81 female student-athletes attending the event in February.
During November, Central Michigan Athletics' Fired Up Canned Food Drive was the most successful in its four years of operation, as the Chippewas collected over 2,000 pounds of food and over 4,400 items, all donated to the CMU Student Food Pantry. Both numbers represented school records. The CMU Athletics initiative, which continues to grow each year, has now become a conference-wide competition, with the Chippewas competing against the Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan athletics departments. Central Michigan Athletics partnered with the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center, CMU Student Activities and Involvement, and the CMU Police Department.
Central Michigan student-athletes also enjoyed a successful year in leadership, career development, and personal enhancement. Over 920 student-athletes interacted with 87 total professionals and organizations; 213 student-athletes attended financial literacy and NIL nights; 244 student-athletes attended personal enhancement workshops; and 259 athletes, including the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which averaged 34 participants per meeting.
If an organization would like to participate in Central Michigan Athletics' community service program, please contact Travis Downing, Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and Administration, at SALD@cmich.edu.
CMU Softball ranked No. 3 in the nation for most community service hours among all women's programs and No. 1 among all NCAA Division softball programs. Other top 10 programs in their respective sports include lacrosse (No. 3), soccer (No. 5), gymnastics (No. 6), field hockey (No. 9), and women's golf (No. 19). Helper Helper, a community service app, calculated the survey based on the percentage of student-athletes who have participated and the average number of hours each student-athlete volunteered.
Central Michigan also ranked No. 2 in the Mid-American Conference in community service hours.
All 17 Chippewa athletics teams participated in the Mount Pleasant community, and a total of 366 student-athletes volunteered in some way. Top benefitting organizations included Community Church, PEAK After-School Program, and Strickler Center: Clothing INC and Care Store.
"Our community service initiatives continue to expand," Zyzelewski Family Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan said. "These exceptional numbers are indicative of the type of student-athletes we have at Central Michigan. We are extremely proud of what our student-athletes accomplished in the Mount Pleasant community this year. They have made a tremendous impact in a variety of local areas, including the civic and community realm, the education sector, and children and youth."
"All of these activities enhance the lives of our student-athletes and better prepare them for life after CMU."
Central Michigan Athletics was fortunate to secure a $350,000 donation for its newly created EmpowHER leadership program. The inaugural National Girls & Women in Sports Week Brunch was a success with 81 female student-athletes attending the event in February.
During November, Central Michigan Athletics' Fired Up Canned Food Drive was the most successful in its four years of operation, as the Chippewas collected over 2,000 pounds of food and over 4,400 items, all donated to the CMU Student Food Pantry. Both numbers represented school records. The CMU Athletics initiative, which continues to grow each year, has now become a conference-wide competition, with the Chippewas competing against the Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan athletics departments. Central Michigan Athletics partnered with the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center, CMU Student Activities and Involvement, and the CMU Police Department.
Central Michigan student-athletes also enjoyed a successful year in leadership, career development, and personal enhancement. Over 920 student-athletes interacted with 87 total professionals and organizations; 213 student-athletes attended financial literacy and NIL nights; 244 student-athletes attended personal enhancement workshops; and 259 athletes, including the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which averaged 34 participants per meeting.
If an organization would like to participate in Central Michigan Athletics' community service program, please contact Travis Downing, Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development and Administration, at SALD@cmich.edu.
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