BILLINGS, Mont. – Student athletes at Montana State University Billings finished 29^th among NCAA Division II member institutions in total service hours in 2019-20 in an announcement made by the NCAA. Since last September, MSUB's athletic teams have pitched in over 1,800 community service hours, and generated over $43,102 of estimated economic impact in Montana.
 
"I continue to be impressed with the effort our student-athletes put into making our community a better place," said MSUB director of athletics Krista Montague. "We are fortunate to be in a position to give back to the people of Billings who also support us. We hope to continue these initiatives for many years to come."
 
The Montana State University Billings Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in coordination with other MSU Billings student organizations surpassed expectations in their commitment to community service and involvement in 2019-20. SAAC president and MSU Billings Kyle McLaughlin spearheaded new programs and succeeded in involving more coaches and student athletes. The Yellowjackets also led the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
 
An online platform for tracking and recording community service called Helper Helper assisted student-athlete involvement by displaying available community projects in the Billings area. It also tracked team and individual progress toward preset goals. The Service Saturday initiative was particularly successful in involving a large group of student-athletes and staff volunteering for a single project one day a week.
 
SAAC leaders set a goal of 1,800 hours of community service before fall semester and met their goal even when a global health crisis effected much of the spring semester.
 
Arkansas State University took first place in total service hours in Division II with Wayne State University, Georgia Southwestern State University, Clayton State University, and Daemen College rounding out the top five.
 
MSU Billings athletics was also named a finalist among 22 schools for the 2020 Division II Award of Excellence in January, which recognizes initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy of community engagement and student-athlete leadership. The Yellowjackets submitted a bid for the award after hosting Pack the House Elementary Day at Alterowitz Gymnasium on November 18.