Recognizing student-athletes who lead beyond the field
Community engagement is core to the Division II philosophy. The Award of Excellence honors institutions and conferences whose student-athletes turn that philosophy into action — through service, leadership, education, and impact on campus and in the communities around them.
Important dates
Applications open: September 1, 2026
Applications close: November 16, 2026
Honorees Recognized:
January 15, 2027
NCAA Convention, Anaheim, CA
Eligibility and how to apply
Who’s eligible
To be eligible for the award, a nomination must:
- Be submitted by an active NCAA Division II member institution or conference.
- Feature a project or initiative led by a Division II institution or conference.
- Demonstrate student-athlete leadership and service that benefits the campus community or local community.
- Highlight impactful initiatives, such as leadership development, educational programming, military appreciation efforts, Make-A-Wish® activities or Team IMPACT® partnerships.
- Have occurred within the designated nomination period.
How to apply
Institutions and conferences submit applications through the NCAA Program Hub during the open application window.
What your application must include
- An overview of the activity or event, including theme and how it was used
- A description of impact on campus and/or in the community
- Up to 10 still photos or links to videos (max three minutes each)
- Related fliers, promotional materials and/or media coverage (print or online)
- A single combined PDF that includes all components
How recipients are selected
An NCAA committee evaluates every nomination against four criteria.
Demonstrates a meaningful and measurable positive impact on the community while reflecting Division II’s commitment to community engagement and service.
Showcases innovative thinking, unique approaches or original solutions that distinguish the initiative and maximize its impact.
Achieves clear goals and delivers strong, measurable results that demonstrate the effectiveness and sustainability of the initiative.
Inspires and engages others to participate, fostering the Division II philosophy of building meaningful connections between campuses, student-athletes and their communities.
A meaningful investment in community impact
Prize money funds future SAAC initiatives and community engagement events at the recognized institutions.
Winner
Runner-up
Third place
Per conference honoree
Recognizing this year’s recipients
Walsh University earned the 2026 Division II Award of Excellence, with Johnson C. Smith University as runner-up and the University of South Carolina Aiken in third place. They were recognized at the NCAA Convention in National Harbor, MD.
Reach out for questions about the Award of Excellence, eligibility or the application process.