Twenty-five schools and two conferences have been named finalists for the 2024 Division II Award of Excellence, an accolade recognizing initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership. Eight finalists were picked as at-large honorees for submitting a strong nomination that was not chosen as the finalist for their conference.
Division II honors its members each year for conducting events that promote student-athletes giving back and serving as leaders within their communities or on their campuses. A committee of athletics administrators determined this year's finalists, and the national Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee selected the top three finalists, who will be announced at the Division II business session on Jan. 13 at the 2024 NCAA Convention in Phoenix.
Each finalist will receive $500. In addition, the winner will receive $2,500, the first runner-up will receive $1,250 and the second runner-up will receive $1,000. All prize money is intended to be used for future SAAC initiatives or community engagement events.
The following are the 2024 finalists and their initiatives, in alphabetical order:
Alabama Huntsville (Gulf South Conference)
One Love: Through a partnership with the One Love Foundation, Alabama Huntsville lacrosse student-athlete Kate Winstanley helped educate her peers on relationship violence and abuse. This included workshops, trainings and a dedicated game in an effort to advance One Love's mission to empower young people with the tools and resources they need to see the signs of unhealthy relationships and bring life-saving prevention education to their communities.
Arkansas Tech (Great American Conference)
River Valley Ability Center mini camps: Arkansas Tech's baseball and softball teams hosted a mini athletics camp for individuals served by the River Valley Ability Center, a nonprofit organization that offers individuals of all ages with adaptive needs a social, creative and physical outlet through recreational and educational activities.
Ashland (At-Large)
Mental Health Week: In February 2023, Ashland's SAAC hosted its first Mental Health Week. Each day included a different activity, ranging from a dodgeball tournament, slime and stress ball making project, wellness workshops, social media shoutouts and more.
Auburn Montgomery (At-Large)
Serving Hope, Changing Lives: Auburn Montgomery partnered with Dream Court, a local nonprofit organization that provides adaptive tennis programs for individuals with physical, development and/or intellectual disabilities. Since the partnership began in December 2022, student-athletes have volunteered more than 225 hours toward the organization's mission.
Augusta University (Peach Belt Conference)
Here To Win: Augusta University launched the Here To Win campaign as a partnership with the Georgia Cancer Center. In addition to visiting the cancer center, each team will host a Cancer Awareness Game that will serve as a platform to share information about the importance of early detection, prevention and cancer screening opportunities.
Black Hills State (At-Large)
Heroes' Day: Nearly 75 veterans, active military members, law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS personnel attended a "Heroes' Day" football game dedicated to their service. Area heroes also were invited to a meal to engage with the football student-athletes earlier in the week.
Bemidji State (At-Large)
Isla's Heart: Bemidji State's SAAC hosted its first Make-A-Wish event at a men's hockey game, partnering with several local community organizations and businesses to provide then 9-year-old Isla Moran and her family a memorable experience. Isla was honored with a jersey with the number 4 to honor the number of heart surgeries she's endured as a result of a rare heart defect.
Caldwell (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference)
Weekend celebration of 50th anniversary of Title IX: Caldwell hosted a panel discussion with five women working in different areas of sports to discuss the impact of Title IX. The next day, Caldwell recognized 50 of its top female student-athletes of all time, as well as female coaches, administrators and pioneers who helped propel the growth of women's sports. Â Â
California Collegiate Athletic Association
CCAA Cares Award: The CCAA established CCAA Cares to amplify the exceptional community engagement contributions made by member schools and their respective Student-Athlete Advisory Committees and student-athletes. A SAAC Community Service Award of the Year trophy and a $500 prize will be awarded to the campus SAAC that is voted to have developed the most innovative project during the past year.
Cameron (At-Large)
Playball Lawton: Thirty Cameron student-athletes and coaches planned, organized and ran a free community engagement event designed to introduce youth to baseball and softball. Cameron partnered with the Oklahoma City Dodgers Foundation to put on the event, which welcomed 93 children to the sports for the first time.
Central Missouri (At-Large)
UCM Literacy Team: Central Missouri student-athletes visited all four Warrensburg elementary schools in October as part of the UCM Literacy Team initiative. At each of the school visits, the student-athletes read newly purchased books to the young students. This year, 81 books were purchased for the four schools.
Colorado Mesa (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference)
Where We Become Mavericks: Colorado Mesa's community engagement initiative, Where We Become Mavericks, pairs teams with an elementary school to serve as role models and share their journeys to Colorado Mesa. The initiative's goal is to get more young students to consider and pursue higher education.
Dallas Baptist University (Lone Star Conference)
Athletes Impacting Mindsets: The school's SAAC developed a community engagement initiative called Athletes Impacting Mindsets that aspires to provide consistent mentorship to students at a local low-income high school.
Franklin Pierce (Northeast-10 Conference)
Birds of a Feather: The Franklin Pierce men's and women's track and field and cross country teams created a community engagement program with a local middle school. As part of the program, student-athletes serve as mentors and provide positive engagement.
Hawaii Pacific (Pacific West Conference)
The Shark Way: Following the devastating wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii Pacific student-athletes raised nearly $10,000 selling T-shirts and wristbands, donated 300 bicycle helmets to Maui children and assisted with packing up shipping containers full of clothing and supplies for families, among several other community engagement initiatives.
Lees-McRae (Conference Carolinas)
Splash: In a partnership with a local YMCA, the Lees-McRae men's and women's swimming and diving teams put together Splash, a free program that provides swim lessons to all kindergarten and second grade students in their county, impacting approximately 320 children each year.
Minnesota State University Moorhead (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference)
SAAC Polar Plunge for Special Olympics: Led by its SAAC, Minnesota State University Moorhead raised $13,684 for Special Olympics Minnesota. Plunge day featured students, student-athletes, coaches, administrators and faculty, radio hosts, Moorhead Business Association representatives, local law enforcement (including a K-9 plunger) and more.
Nebraska-Kearney (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)
Loper Stars: Led by its SAAC, Nebraska-Kearney hosted an event to provide individuals with disabilities and their families an opportunity to engage with student-athletes while participating in physical activities. Nearly 100 student-athletes were paired with participants and their families.
UNC Pembroke (At-Large)
American Indian Heritage football game: UNC Pembroke — the only four-year institution in the U.S. founded by American Indians — hosted a football game that generated thousands of additional attendees, honored its historic culture, extended youth ticket opportunities to a number of organizations, and much more.
Palm Beach Atlantic (Sunshine State Conference)
Spike Night: A beach volleyball tournament open to all in the community, Spike Night was created to raise funds for Make-A-Wish. More than 150 participated in the tournament, which helped Palm Beach Atlantic surpass 60% of its $10,000 goal to raise for Make-A-Wish last academic year.Â
Roberts Wesleyan (East Coast Conference)
Ugandan Water Project: Roberts Wesleyan student-athletes selected the Uganda Water Project as part of a yearlong initiative to build at least 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, provide service to and raise more than $13,000 toward the Uganda Water Project.
Rockhurst (Great Lakes Valley Conference)
Be the Match: Rockhurst men's soccer's Nick Grewe spearheaded a drive for Be the Match, the global leader in bone marrow transplantation that connects patients with their donor match. The event led to 175 volunteers being swabbed and added to the national database, while raising awareness within the campus and surrounding community on the importance of donating.
Slippery Rock (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference)
Coaches to Classroom & Professors to Practice: Once a year, the Slippery Rock women's basketball student-athletes take a coach to observe and participate in one class. Conversely, the professors attend a practice, lifting or film session. The goal behind the engagement is for coaches and professors have a better understanding of what a day is like for a student-athlete.
South Atlantic Conference
Mental Wellness Empowerment Week: The South Atlantic Conference's Mental Wellness Empowerment Week initiative provided an opportunity for student-athletes, coaches, administrators and the athletic communities throughout the conference to use their platform to create a dialogue surrounding mental wellness.
Walsh (Great Midwest Athletic Conference)
Freedom Walk: In a partnership with the Ohio-based organization Not for Sale: One Step at a Time, more than 1,100 Walsh student-athletes, coaches, faculty, parents and community members walked in silence to bring awareness to human trafficking.
Wayne State (Michigan) (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)
Bandana Project & the B#4 Foundation: In September, Suicide Prevention Month, Wayne State created a monthlong initiative to break the stigma around mental health issues. This included launching the Bandana Project and partnering with the B#4 Foundation, an organization that aims to honor former Wayne State student-athlete Brady Hessbrook by promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention through education, outreach initiatives, advocacy and community engagement.
Virginia at Wise (At-Large)
Kids Day Basketball Game: The Virginia at Wise men's basketball team hosted a game that tipped off at noon, with more than 2,200 local elementary school children from 10 schools in attendance. For many of the children, it was their first time on a college campus.
