LAS VEGAS – The Mountain West announced its 2016-17 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Community Service Award winner and All-MW SAAC Community Service Team today.

For the 12th consecutive academic year, the MW SAAC challenged each other in a league-wide competition for the Community Service Award. This year’s contest had the league’s institutions counting their total hours of assistance while participating in various service activities around their respective communities.

From March 2016 to February 2017, the 11 MW institutions tallied 46,935 hours of community service. UNLV registered 13,058 hours of service to win its first MW SAAC Community Service Award. The University of Nevada finished second with 7,957 service hours and Air Force was third with 5,719 hours.

The award was presented to representatives from the UNLV during its men’s first round game of the 2017 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Rebels opening contest against San Diego State tipped off Wednesday, March 9 at 4:00 p.m. PT.

In conjunction with the MW Community Service Challenge, the Conference also announced its All-MW SAAC Community Service Team. In a continuing effort to recognize the accomplishments of student-athletes beyond the field of competition, one student-athlete from each institution who went above and beyond helping to promote and participate in community service activities was recognized for their efforts. The following student-athletes comprise the 2016-17 All-MW SAAC Community Service Team:

  • David Walker, Wrestling – U.S. Air Force Academy
  • Cassidy Edwards, Softball – Boise State University
  • Madison Porter, Women’s Tennis – Colorado State University
  • Brooke Legaux, Women’s Volleyball – Fresno State
  • T Moe, Women’s Basketball – University of Nevada
  • Marisa Doran, Women’s Volleyball – University of New Mexico
  • Ellison Grove, Women’s Track & Field – San Diego State University
  • Sara Northam, Women’s Water Polo – San José State University
  • Emily Casale, Women’s Soccer – UNLV
  • Devin Wright, Men’s Track & Field – Utah State University
  • Samantha Zavala, Women’s Swimming & Diving – University of Wyoming

The Mountain West also would like to recognize the student-athlete advisory committees from all 11 of its institutions for their hard work and efforts on the 2016-17 MW SAAC Community Service Project. For more information on the MW SAAC and to view photos from various community service activities, follow the MW SAAC on Twitter (@MW_SAAC) and like the MW SAAC Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MountainWestSAAC).