The NCAA and the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association — an affiliate of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics — have announced the 2026 NCAA/MOAA Opportunities and Impact Award recipients.
The award recognizes and celebrates the initiatives, programs and efforts of athletics departments and conference offices in Divisions I, II and III that embrace environments of belonging and well-being and elevate the student-athlete voice in intercollegiate athletics communities. NCAA and MOAA representatives will present the awards June 7-10 in Las Vegas during the MOAA Symposium.
This year's divisional award recipients are the Big Ten Conference, Saint Michael's athletics department and Occidental athletics department.
"This honor is an acknowledgment of NCAA member schools and conference offices that intentionally create spaces and opportunities for all student-athletes, coaches and administrators to feel seen, heard and valued," said Felicia Martin, NCAA senior vice president of inclusion, education and community engagement. "It is important to recognize these outstanding recipients who diligently embrace a commitment to positively impact their athletic communities and make a significant difference for all humanity."
"Congratulations to this year's recipients," said Timothy Wise, MOAA president and assistant general manager at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. "The outstanding work by the winners showcases the commitment to providing opportunities in the ever-changing landscape and making a significant impact on their campus and in conference communities. Each of the winners is worthy of this honor, and MOAA looks forward to partnering with the NCAA to recognize these achievements at the 2026 MOAA Symposium in June."
The Big Ten Conference - Division I
The Big Ten Conference continues to engage, educate and empower its student-athletes, coaches, administrators and its broader community base with programs, initiatives and engagements that make a difference and encourage positive change. For four years, student-athletes from Big Ten schools have traveled to Alabama for an immersive journey that included learning about the Civil Rights Movement, visits to historic sites, community service projects and panel sessions with local leaders. The Big Ten has also added new elements to the transformative experience each year to deepen understanding and inspire civic responsibility.
Additionally, the conference creates leadership opportunities for its student-athletes. It partners with James Russell Lowell Elementary School in Indianapolis, connecting its 18 member schools with classrooms that include mentorship and encouragement via virtual meetings.
Another one of its many initiatives are structured conversations with administrators, coaches, athletes and employees to gather feedback and to inform future strategies. Examples include conducting student-athlete experience exit surveys and hosting standing committees, commissions and leadership councils to discuss progress, share feedback and assess strategic alignment. The conference also hosts numerous inclusive programs such as United as One, the B1G Fellows Program, the Student-Athlete Issues Commission, The Women's Volleyball Mentorship Program and the CBS Sports Ambassador Program & Sports Journalism Initiative. The conference also promotes several awards programs, which includes the Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award to recognize student-athletes who demonstrate leadership, service and volunteerism.Â
"We're proud to accept this honor on behalf of our 18 schools, whose support makes these initiatives possible," Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti said.
Omar Brown, Big Ten senior vice president for community and impact, added, "This humbling recognition is a direct result of the leadership and alignment we have from Commissioner Petitti, throughout the conference office, and in collaboration with our campuses. Big Ten student-athletes always are aiming for excellence in competition, in the classroom and in their communities. We will continue to build on this foundation to create transformational opportunities for their development and deliver impact to the many locales we call home across the nation throughout the year."Â
Saint Michael's athletics department — Division II
Saint Michael's athletics helps create a lasting impact by supporting its student-athletes through countless opportunities to enhance their communities, both on campus and off campus. Saint Michael's student-athletes play a central role in shaping departmental priorities through active participation in athletics and campus committees, setting the tone that success is not defined by competition only, but by character, connection and community.
Purple Knights lead through an active Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Hope Happens Here, which partners with Morgan's Message to support student-athlete mental health. Student-athletes are further interwoven into the fabric of the campus community as leaders through such programs as the Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts, which supports communities around the country during service trips; Best Buddies, which is dedicated to ending isolation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and Saint Michael's Fire and Rescue, a volunteer organization staffed by students that serves the local community.
Student-athletes also show their commitment to their community through their involvement with the annual Burlington Pride Parade, local Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk and campus Mental Health Awareness Games. The programs highlight the leadership's intent to create inclusive, supportive spaces while leveraging athletics as a platform for advocacy and awareness.
Saint Michael's also partners with Team IMPACT, connecting its student-athletes with children facing serious illness and paving the way to creating life-changing relationships that embody compassion, purpose and hope. Thanks to its efforts, Saint Michael's was named the Team IMPACT NCAA Division II Fellowship Campus of the Year for 2024-25.
"At Saint Michael's, we strive to create environments that foster inclusion, leadership, growth and community on and off the playing fields," said Shannon Bollhardt, Saint Michael's women's basketball head coach and SAAC co-advisor. "The events and initiatives we organize and participate in are intentional, providing an opportunity for our student-athletes to pursue what is meaningful to them, which is essential to our student-centered mission."
"We are truly honored to receive the 2026 NCAA/MOAA Opportunities and Impact Award," said senior women's ice hockey player Annika Lavender, Saint Michael's SAAC diversity, equity and inclusion chair. "This recognition means so much because it reflects the real commitment our student-athletes and staff have made to strengthening our athletics community. I'm especially proud of the way our student-athletes have shown up for one another and led important initiatives that have created a meaningful impact. The work we've done has been intentional and rooted in care for the people around us. While this award is a moment to celebrate, it also motivates us to keep building on that progress and continuing the work ahead."
Occidental athletics department — Division III
Occidental's athletics department has been a beacon for sustaining a student-centered commitment that fosters belonging and amplifies student-athlete voices. It also embeds justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, concepts collectively known as JEDI, into the athlete experience. Athletics created a framework that allows student-athletes, administrators and coaches spaces for meaningful dialogue, programming and partnerships that help build a collaborative, responsible culture.
Occidental athletics' guiding principle, "One Tiger, Many Stripes," is recognized during events and meetings. Athletes have the opportunity to sign a pledge tied to the principle that affirms standards of respect, inclusion and care within teams and across athletics. Other examples include the JEDI Conversation Starters, which involve discussions that connect sport, personal identity and lived experiences. These conversations may not naturally occur in locker rooms or day-to-day interactions and allow deeper understanding, trust and connections across teams.
In addition to programs, speaker series and other impactful initiatives, Occidental's leadership also encourages work with university campus offices and programs. One such collaboration involves the JEDI student-athlete committee and the campus Project SAFE office. During Empowerment Week, the two joined efforts to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Efforts also work to normalize student-athlete involvement in campus advocacy spaces and strengthen trust and visibility between athletics and the wider campus.
"We are deeply honored to be selected for the 2026 NCAA/MOAA Opportunities and Impact Award," said Cori Vallembois, Occidental assistant athletics director and coordinator of JEDI programming. "This recognition reflects the steady, intentional work our department has done to create an environment where our student-athletes feel heard, supported and valued for exactly who they are. I am especially grateful for the consistent leadership and trust of our director of athletics, Shanda Ness, whose support makes my work possible. But most importantly, this honor belongs to the student-athletes — past and present — who serve/have served on our JEDI Committee and continue to lead with honesty, courage and care for one another. Their willingness to engage in meaningful conversations and lean into difficult moments is what continues to shape the culture of Oxy athletics."
"This honor belongs to the entire Oxy athletics team that is deeply committed to making a difference and creating an athletics department that is inclusive and supportive of all student-athletes," Ness said. "Cori has done a great job of providing intentional opportunities for our staff and student-athletes to continue to grow in this area. I am proud of the work we have done and look forward to what comes next."
