ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Roberts Wesleyan University Department of Athletics has been named a finalist for the 2023 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence, the NCAA announced on Wednesday.
Roberts has been recognized as the East Coast Conference champion for its Redhawks Reachout Rise Against Hunger campaign where more than 50 student-athletes packed and boxed 13,176 single-meal packets for Rise Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organization.
The meals were shipped in a container with more than 285,000 meals from Rise Against Hunger's Pittsburgh warehouse and arrived at ORPHANetwork in Nicaragua in September.
The ingredients (rice, dehydrated soy, dehydrated vegetables and a nutrient packet) were purchased by using $5,000 from a Redhawks fundraising event. A box of meals will feed one child for an entire school year and can support a family of four or five for a month. Rise Against Hunger was one of several Redhawks Reachout events where student-athletes partner with organizations around the Rochester area to help address hunger needs
This is the second time in three years that the Redhawks have been a finalist for the Award of Excellence. Roberts was the first place (national winner) recipient in 2021 for its work with Golisano Children's Hospital.
"We are excited and honored to be named a finalist for the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence again this year," Executive Director of Athletics Bob Segave said. "Athletics established our Roberts Reachout Program when we became a full member of the NCAA in 2014. As a University whose mission focuses on Education for Character and Christian service that responds to the diverse needs of individuals and communities, we learn and grow from serving others. I am proud of our student-athletes and staff for the multiple ways they 'Reachout' ,"both in our community and across the globe."
Roberts Wesleyan University is the only Division II institution in the Rochester area. The Division II approach provided growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletics competition and development of positive societal attitudes in service to the community.
As part of Division II's emphasis on community engagement, each active Division II school and conference is eligible to submit its best community engagement activity and/or event that promotes student-athletes giving back and serving as leaders within their communities.
The grand prize winner, second-place finalist and third-place finalist will be announced on ncaa.org on Jan. 14.
