Hudson Valley Community College Athletics Earns Ninth Region III Community Service Award
CONTACT: Julia Quinlan, j.quinlan@hvcc.edu, (518) 629-7863 or (518) 530-7376
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Hudson Valley Community College Athletics has been named the recipient of the 2025-26 NJCAA Region III Community Service Award, marking the ninth time the Vikings have earned the prestigious honor.
The award recognizes Hudson Valley's continued commitment to serving the Capital Region through volunteerism, outreach, and community engagement. Throughout the 2025-26 academic year, the Vikings' 20 varsity programs participated in 26 community service initiatives, reinforcing the department's emphasis on developing well-rounded student-athletes who make a positive impact beyond competition.
Student-athletes dedicated countless hours to supporting local organizations, schools, charities, and campus initiatives throughout the Capital Region. Their efforts focused on addressing food insecurity, supporting youth development, promoting mental health awareness, assisting charitable organizations, and strengthening relationships within the local community.
Community service initiatives during the 2025-26 academic year included:
- College Suites Move-In Day
- Volleyball Volunteers at Capital City Mission
- Viking Cupboard Food Pantry Donation Drive
- Reverse Rett Syndrome Family Fun Day
- Capital Region Walk for R.I.T.A. (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
- Albany South End Children's Café Baseball Clinics
- Women's Soccer Cleat Drive
- Walk to End Alzheimer's
- American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Awareness Walk
- Pumpkin Palooza
- Capital District Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) College Forum Day
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity "Feed the Community Day"
- HVCC Thanksgiving Dinner (Evening Event)
- HVCC Thanksgiving Dinner (Day Event)
- Toys for Tots – New York State Holiday Toy, Coat and Food Drive
- Mater Christi Girls Basketball Skills & Drills Clinic
- Lansingburgh Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting
- Twin Town Little League Spring Training Clinics
- Beestera Foundation Free Youth Soccer Clinics
- Bethel Baptist Church Food Giveaway
- Times Union "Best Of" Campaign
- Rensselaer County Electronics Recycling Event
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention RPI Campus Walk
- HVCC Earth Day Nature Trail Cleanup
- Morgan's Message Awareness Baseball Game
- Play4Kay Women's Cancer Awareness Softball Game
Several Viking programs continued long-standing partnerships with local organizations throughout the year. Baseball once again volunteered with the Albany South End Children's Café, Twin Town Little League, Rensselaer County Electronics Recycling, and several community events, while football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, bowling, softball, tennis, and track & field each contributed to initiatives benefiting the Capital Region.
The Region III Community Service Award recognizes institutions that demonstrate exceptional dedication to community engagement through volunteerism and service initiatives. Hudson Valley's ninth Community Service Award reflects the department's longstanding commitment to making a positive impact beyond athletics and continuing its tradition of service throughout the Capital Region.