INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Roberts Wesleyan was announced as the 2025 Division II Award of Excellence winner during the division's business session on Friday at the NCAA Convention in Nashville. The Redhawks become the first three-time winner of the Award of Excellence in its 12-year history ('21, '24, '25) for their work with The Pirate Toy Fund, which has donated more than 400,000 toys to Rochester-area children since 1995.
Roberts Wesleyan was one of 22 institutions and four conferences selected as finalists for the honor, an accolade recognizing initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy of community engagement and student-athlete leadership.
RWU student-athletes, coaches, and staff dedicated more than 300 service hours to support the Pirate Toy Fund in 2024. These efforts included helping to move and set up a new warehouse, sorting toys, and organizing community events, significantly contributing to the Toy Fund's mission of bringing joy to children in need across the Greater Rochester area.
The economic impact of the Redhawks' contributions was substantial. The volunteer manpower used to tear down and set up shelving in the new warehouse saved the Pirate Toy Fund over $10,000 in billable hours. In addition to hands-on labor, the Redhawks also played a key role in organizing toy drives, including a Pepper for Pirate event and a Toy Drive hosted by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), both of which collected thousands of toys for children in the community.
This is the fourth time Roberts Wesleyan has been recognized by the national Division II SAAC committee for this honor in the 12-year history of the award.
In 2024, Roberts was recognized for its work with the Ugandan Water Project. 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.
"It is a great honor to be recognized for one of the many community service projects we take on annually. Our student-athletes, coaches, staff and administration work together to do everything we can to serve and help in the community. Congratulations to all the finalists and their fine community service efforts," said Bob Segave, executive director of athletics at Roberts Wesleyan. "Our Redhawks Reach Out service initiatives are important to the growth and development of the student-athletes, and we continue to treat them as an important part of the overall student-athlete experience at Roberts Wesleyan University."
As the winner of the award, Roberts Wesleyan will receive $3,000 to use toward future community engagement efforts. All prize money is intended to be used for future SAAC initiatives or community engagement events.
To read the NCAA's full release, click here.