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

Roberts was selected for prioritizing student-athlete mental health through its Redhawks Reachout Initiative and is one of 26 institutions and one conference to be honored as an overall finalist. The Award of Excellence highlights initiatives that exemplify the Division II philosophy of community engagement and student-athlete leadership.

Roberts partnered Morgan's Message, The Hidden Opponent and the University Wellness Center and other student organizations to strengthen mental health initiatives and supports across the Athletic Department. Programs included mental health screenings, goat yoga and advocacy campaigns like Smash the Stigma, alongside awareness games hosted by the volleyball and field hockey teams.

These efforts were supported by more than 300 engagement hours from student-athletes and complemented by fundraising and volunteer work for the Pirate Toy Fund, saving over $10,000 in labor costs and collecting thousands of toys for local children.

The 2026 Award of Excellence winner, first runner-up and second runner-up will be announced during the Division II business session at the NCAA Convention on Friday, Jan. 16.

Roberts is the only institution to win the Award of Excellence more than once. Roberts was recognized as the winner in both 2024 for its work with the Uganda Water Project and 2025 for its support of the Pirate Toy Fund. Roberts also won in 2021 for its partnership with Golisano Children's Hospital.

The overall finalists were chosen by a committee of athletics administrators and the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, with the SAAC members ultimately selecting the top three finalists.

Each finalist will receive $750. The winner will receive $3,000, with the second-place finisher getting $1,750 and the third-place finisher awarded $1,500. All prize money is intended to be used for future SAAC programming or community engagement events.