The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has announced that Lake Superior State University's Athletics Department and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) have won the 2025-26 GLIAC SAAC Community Service Championship. It's LSSU's first championship in the competition, which began in the 2023-24 academic year.

"Winning the GLIAC SAAC Community Service Championship means a lot, because it shows what our student-athletes are capable of outside of competition," said LSSU SAAC President Gary Haight. "We're the smallest school in the conference, but that never stopped us from making the biggest impact locally. Seeing 140 LSSU student-athletes come together and give more than 3,100 hours to our community is truly amazing, and it makes me incredibly proud to be a Laker."

Campus SAAC advisors like Haight are student-athletes who lead community engagement and track the number of hours and money raised. Haight, who competes for the Lakers Men's Cross Country and Track and Field Teams, said that LSSU student-athletes served for a combined 3,101.5 hours, an average of nearly a full day of community service per student-athlete. Hours included team activities or individual community service with local organizations. 

While many student-athletes already participate in community events within their region, the GLIAC developed the GLIAC SAAC Community Service Championship to recognize and celebrate the efforts of those who do the most. The league created a contest as an extra incentive to drive these highly-motivated individuals to continue and improve their efforts.

"Championships are measured in many ways, and this one speaks directly to the character of our student-athletes," said Lake Superior State Athletics Director Tory Lindley. "Their willingness to invest thousands of hours serving others demonstrates that being a Laker means more than competing at a high level. It means leading through service, building relationships, and leaving our community better than they found it. This recognition is one they should all be incredibly proud of."

Haight added, "Our impact shows that we really have a strong sense of community and a lot of people who are willing to give their time to help others. I'm excited to see how we can raise the bar even more for the 2026-27 season and try to win this championship again!"

Lake Superior State proudly celebrates the 2025-26 GLIAC SAAC Community Service Championship ahead of the 2026-27 season. Follow the Lakers across social media platforms and download the Lake Superior State Lakers app for the latest news and scores, available now on the App Store and Google Play.