ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Roberts Wesleyan University Athletic Department has been named a finalist for the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence for the fourth time in five years.

Roberts is one of 22 schools and four conferences that have been chosen as finalists for the 2025 Division II Award of Excellence, an accolade recognizing initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy of community engagement and student-athlete leadership. Four finalists were picked as at-large honorees for submitting a strong nomination that was not chosen as the finalist for their conference.

Roberts is the only institution to have won the Award of Excellence twice. Roberts was recognized as the winner in 2024 for its work with the Uganda Water Project and in 2021 for its partnership with Golisano Children's Hospital.

Roberts was selected as a 2025 finalist for its continued and expanded work with the Pirate Toy Fund in Rochester.

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 (SAAC) selected the top three finalists, who will be announced at the Division II business session on January 17 at the 2025 NCAA Convention in Nashville.

Each finalist will receive $750. In addition, the winner will receive $3,000, the first runner-up will receive $1,750 and the second runner-up will receive $1,500. All prize money is intended to be used for future SAAC initiatives or community engagement events.