Student-athletes lead on and off the field

UM-Dearborn Men’s Soccer forward Noah Carmona scored a game-winning goal his first year on the team. That was a couple of years ago, but he still recalls how exciting it was. And women’s soccer forward Henna Mahmood describes running on the soccer field, something she’s done for nearly as long as she can remember, as invigorating.

But the juniors both say their time on the field pales in comparison to delivering toys to children receiving medical treatment at C.S. Mott’s Children’s Hospital or stocking shelves at UM-Dearborn’s Student Food Pantry so their fellow Dearborn Wolverines have food to eat.

“Volunteering resets me is such a positive way. As busy as we all are with school and sports, volunteering helps ground me. It reminds me that we all have things happening in our lives that are challenging — some more than others — and, ultimately, we need to be there for each other,” says Carmona, a biological sciences major. “There’s really not a better feeling than knowing you are doing something that may make a difference in someone’s life.”

Dearborn Heights resident Carmona and Northville resident Mahmood, an accounting and finance major, were recently named to the Allstate National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics 2025-26 Fall Good Works Team for their volunteering and civic engagement. They were nominated for the award by their coaches, Men’s  Soccer Head Coach Chris Stevanovic. and Women’s Soccer Head Coach Tesa McKibben. This national award honors 60 college players a year across the three sports seasons (winter, spring and fall). Other student-athletes recently named to an Allstate NACDA team include Duke University guard Sion James, who is now in the NBA, and UConn women’s basketball standout Paige Bueckers, who was the No. 1 WNBA draft pick earlier this year.

In addition to his volunteer work at Mott Hospital and the Food Pantry, Carmona has washed laundry for homeless shelters, worked at local food pantries up to three times a week and made literacy kits for children at under-resourced schools through the student organization Fresh Start. Mahmood has provided child life services for children in a kidney dialysis unit, served meals in soup kitchens and traveled to Bangladesh to assist in eye care clinics through the Foundation for Charitable Activities in Bangladesh with her family. The two soccer starters say their parents incorporated volunteerism into their lives starting at a young age.

UM-Dearborn Athletics Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Services Amy Proctor, who helps UM-Dearborn student-athletes organize volunteer efforts, says she’s proud that Carmona and Mahmood were recognized by NACDA for their extensive volunteer work. But she isn’t surprised. She says civic engagement is part of UM-Dearborn’s’ student-athlete culture and that the university’s 16 athletic teams work together to support one another and often engage with the community through service. These efforts are coordinated through the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, which Proctor advises. Carmona and Mahmood are SAAC representatives for their teams, with Carmona holding a SAAC executive board position. 

“Our student-athletes are up before the sun so they can make it to campus for practice, go to school all day and have games. Many work part time. They often don’t get home until dark. Because of their busy schedules, they are great at managing time and being leaders,” Proctor says. “We recognize that and want to give them opportunities to use their skills to help people in the community. SAAC organizes fundraisers for teams to participate in, in addition to the volunteer work our student-athletes are doing on their own.” 

Each year, all teams compete to raise the most items for the UM-Dearborn Student Food Pantry. This year, that will take place Nov. 10-14, with donations tallied on the second floor of the Fieldhouse. “There are boxes in the hallway that represent each sport. The team who collects the most food, wins,” Proctor says. “Last year, we collected 1,323 pounds of food for the pantry.” The teams also shop for the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital toy drive each December. That will take place Dec. 1-5, with toy delivery to Mott on Dec. 5. “We collected two vans’ worth of toys last year. After we drove there, the students unloaded the toys and brought them into the hospital,” Proctor says. Anyone from the campus community can donate and support these UM-Dearborn Athletics initiatives. Have questions on how to get involved? Email Proctor.

Because of the competitive spirit within UM-Dearborn Athletics, a Wolverine Cup award was added last year as extra incentive. The team with the most points — accrued by volunteering, food and toy drive collection, attending other teams’ games, academics and more — is recognized with their name on the Fieldhouse’s Wolverine Cup plaque.  

The first award, which was presented at the Athletics Banquet in spring 2025, went to the Men’s Lacrosse team. Lacrosse Assistant Coach and Director of Operations Matthew Laurinec says his team wanted to win the Wolverine Cup because it reinforces the importance of investing in the community — on campus and beyond. Men’s Lacrosse was a major player in the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital drive, which cumulatively resulted in a collection of nearly 1,000 toys. 

“Volunteering and community work aren’t extras for us; they’re part of our identity and how we define success,” Laurinec says. “Serving together builds empathy, leadership and accountability — the same traits that drive our performance in the classroom and on the field. Ultimately, we’re invested in graduating well-rounded individuals, people who compete with character, contribute to their communities and carry these habits for life.”

Carmona and Mahmood, who play soccer games every Wednesday and Saturday through the end of the month (see the women’s soccer schedule and men’s soccer schedule), plan to continue volunteering long past graduation. They didn’t do the work for Allstate NACDA recognition, but they are honored to be on the team.

“I've been volunteering since I was little. My parents would hand me gloves and have me help clean and care for my elementary school grounds across the street from our house. Service has always been part of my life, just like soccer is,” Mahmood says. “I feel incredibly fortunate to play the sport I love in college, and I intend to keep doing both for as long as I'm able to.”

Story by Sarah Tuxbury