ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Bob Segave, Executive Director of Athletics at Roberts Wesleyan University, received the Mary Eleanor "Mel" Anderson Outstanding Service Award at the university's annual Faculty and Staff Kick-Off Event on Tuesday.

Roberts Athletics has become the premier athletic program for community service in NCAA Division II during Segave's tenure.
Roberts has won the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence a record three times under the leadership of Segave, who became AD in 2015.

"Bob Segave is more than a leader — he is a living example of leadership rooted in heart, integrity, and service," Femi Alao, Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, said in her nomination letter. "Bob's leadership is the embodiment of Roberts Wesleyan University's core values—faithful service, visionary leadership, unwavering integrity, and a profound commitment to others. As the visionary founder of Redhawks Reach Out, he has cultivated a powerful culture of compassion and action that mobilizes student-athletes, coaches, and staff to serve with purpose and consistency — locally, nationally, and globally."

Segave has supported several community service initiatives on campus, including:

• Redhawk Fridays: A weekly program uniting student-athletes with students from The Bridge to Earning, Learning, and Living (BELL) Program. This initiative fosters friendships, inclusion, empathy, and leadership while elevating the program's visibility on campus through Segave's tireless advocacy.
• Ugandan Water Project (2024): A year-long campaign that raised over $13,000 to construct three clean water wells serving school communities in Uganda. Student-athletes participated in fund-raising 5Ks, awareness challenges, and assembly of pump repair kits, illustrating Bob's commitment to global service.
• Rise Against Hunger (2023): For their inaugural meal-packing event, the Redhawks raised $5,000 and packed 13,176 meals for children in Nicaragua. This effort earned third place nationally in the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence, exemplifying student-athlete leadership and community impact.
• Golisano Children's Hospital (2021): Through the Onnie Wells Child Life Fund, Segave led a campaign raising over $10,500, matched by a generous donor, to support children receiving care, demonstrating impactful fundraising and community support.
• Pirate Toy Fund: A longstanding partnership where Roberts Wesleyan student-athletes, coaches, and staff contribute hundreds of volunteer hours annually—supporting toy drives, warehouse operations, and community events—helping bring joy to children across the Greater Rochester area. This work helped Roberts Wesleyan become the first three-time recipient of the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence (2021, 2024, 2025).
• Thanksgiving Meal Distribution: Each year, the department partners with Pearce Free Methodist Church to assist in distributing over 1,100 Thanksgiving meals to families in need locally, underscoring a consistent commitment to community.

The Athletic Department is currently partnering with Calvary Assembly church, where Segave is an active member of the congregation, to provide backpacks and school supplies for students in grades K-6 at School 25 in the Rochester City School District.

"I was shocked and very humbled," Segave said. "It is an honor to be recognized as a recipient of an award that honors Mel Anderson, a wonderful person who set such a high bar for service at Roberts. Previous recipients are great friends of mine who I admire and try to live up to each day and it's easy to support the mission of thriving students when you have a great, like-minded team around you."