Roberts Wesleyan was announced as the 2024 Division II Award of Excellence winner during the division's business session Saturday at the NCAA Convention in Phoenix.
The Redhawks, among 27 Division II Award of Excellence finalists, became the first two-time winner in the award's 11-year history. Roberts Wesleyan was recognized for its Ugandan Water Project, a yearlong initiative to build three water wells in Uganda to provide fresh water to communities in need. The Redhawks participated in multiple service opportunities throughout the year to bring awareness to the project and raise more than $13,000 for it. The Ugandan Water Project stemmed from Roberts Wesleyan's broader community engagement initiative, Redhawks Reachout, which aims to find ways to impact local and global communities in need.
As part of the water project, student-athletes put together hundreds of kits to restore water pumps in Uganda and Morocco. Student-athletes, coaches and staff also ran in and volunteered at a local 5K race to raise money for the project. Other activations included a one-week water challenge to bring awareness to the challenges many Ugandans face finding access to clean water and a 60-minute fundraising blitz.
"This event stands as an excellent example of how Roberts Wesleyan University, through the Redhawks Reachout initiative, is nurturing our students' intellectual growth and instilling in them a profound sense of responsibility and compassion for the world," Roberts Wesleyan Executive Director of Athletics Bob Segave said. "I am deeply proud of our student-athletes who answered the call so many times this year for various projects, including the Ugandan Water Project. The fact that the wells were constructed and are currently benefiting three school communities is so rewarding and fulfilling for them. It's an honor to have now been recognized for the second time in the history of this award."
Each year, the national Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee selects the Award of Excellence winner based on actions over the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership. As the winner of the award, Roberts Wesleyan will receive $2,500 to use toward future community engagement efforts.
Hawaii Pacific garnered second place for community engagement efforts by its men's basketball team. The Sharks provided assistance after the devastating wildfires in Lahaina. They donated profits from a T-shirt and wristband fundraiser to local victims, hosted a youth clinic in Maui, donated over 300 youth bicycle helmets, and assisted with packing and shipping containers of clothing and supplies for Lahaina families. The Sharks also partnered with two local elementary schools to create a mentorship program, hosted a local youth clinic and participated in several other community engagement projects in Oahu. The school will receive $1,250 to use toward future community engagement efforts.
Virginia at Wise earned third place for its Kids Day Basketball Game, a community engagement tradition that started about 10 years ago in which local schoolchildren attend a midday basketball game at Virginia at Wise as a field trip before winter break. More than 2,200 children attended the December 2022 game. It was the first Kids Day game since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the atmosphere was celebratory. The school will receive $1,000 for its community engagement efforts.
