Roberts Wesleyan University Athletics was awarded the first-place grand prize for the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence at the NCAA Convention on January 13 in Phoenix. University student-athletes were recognized for their yearlong fundraising initiative for the Ugandan Water Project, which raised more than $13,000 to build three water wells in Uganda and provide fresh water to communities in need.
As part of Redhawks Reachout, the university Athletics Department’s strategic community service initiative, the Redhawks selected the Ugandan Water Project after learning about the need for clean water in the country and the global water crisis, which impacts 2.2 billion people worldwide.
Throughout the past year, student-athletes from multiple athletics programs engaged in several community service opportunities to raise awareness and support the financial goals of the organization. Efforts included building nearly 300 kits to reset water pumps in Uganda, participating and volunteering in the nonprofit’s annual 5k, hosting a week-long educational water challenge and championing WaterNOW, a social media fundraising event, which surpassed the students’ initial $10,000 fundraising goal.
“We are so proud of our student-athletes who have inspired all of us to find creative ways to impact others through financial assistance and encouragement to communities, children and families in need,” said Roberts Wesleyan University President Dr. Rupert A. Hayles Jr. “This event stands as an excellent example of how Roberts, through the Redhawks Reachout initiative, is instilling in our student-athletes a profound sense of responsibility and compassion for their neighbors around the world.”
Roberts Wesleyan was one of 25 schools and two conferences selected as finalists for the 2024 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence. The annual accolade honors its members for conducting events that promote student-athletes giving back and serving as leaders in their communities or on their campuses, and recognizes initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership.
This is the third time Roberts Wesleyan has been recognized by the national Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for this honor, and the university is the division’s first two-time winner in the award’s 11-year history. In 2021, the university won the grand prize for its work with Golisano Children’s Hospital, and placed third in 2023 for its inaugural meal-packing event for Rise Against Hunger.
“I am continually amazed by the compassion and community-oriented spirit of our student-athletes,” Roberts Wesleyan University Executive Director of Athletics Bob Segave said. “Their steadfast support of the Ugandan Water Project last year is already making an impact with the development of new rainwater collection systems, water filtration stations and handwashing stations at three schools in Uganda. We are honored to receive this recognition once again from the NCAA.”
The university was awarded a $2,500 prize, which will be used for future community engagement initiatives and events.
For more information about Roberts Wesleyan University athletics, visit http://robertsredhawks.com.
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