INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Belmont Abbey has been selected as Conference Carolinas' nominee for the 2021 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence, the association and league announced today. The accolade recognizes initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership. Twenty-eight schools and one conference earned distinction as finalists with all 23 Division II conferences submitting a nominee for the first time since 2015. Six additional finalists were picked as at-large honorees for submitting a strong nomination that was not chosen as the finalist for their conference.
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 selects the winner, who will be announced at the Division II business session Jan. 15 at the virtual 2021 NCAA Convention.
"We are ineffably grateful to the NCAA for selecting Belmont Abbey College as the Conference Carolinas nominee for the 2021 Division II Award of Excellence," Vice-President and Director of Athletics Stephen Miss said. ". A testament to the vision, leadership, and hard work of so many of our SAAC students - not just this past Spring but over the 10 years since it's inception - Mr. Crusader has grown in stature and significance on our campus and is now a staple of our academic calendar and Abbey culture. I would be remiss not to acknowledge and thank Coach Toni Elyea for her good work in partnership with Michelle McNeight. We anticipate eagerly learning the overall outcome of this prestigious award."
Belmont Abbey submitted its annual Mr. Crusader Pageant, where student-athletes participate in a multitude of events and the audience votes for their favorite student-athlete by donating money to Make-A-Wish. The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members plan, organize and produce the evening, which is also the the department's largest fundraiser and community engagement event. Avery Wilson, a Make-A-Wish recipient who participates each year as a judge, was celebrated for beating cancer, helping SAAC break the previous record for Make-A-Wish donations.
"As a collective whole, our campus strives for excellence and virtue in everything. Receiving this award is a huge honor and signifies what our student athletes started in 2010 -- and have grown into something bigger than themselves -- such that they are leaving a legacy that harnesses the spirit of The Abbey," SAAC Advisor and Head Women's Volleyball Coach Toni Elyea added. "It shows our students that they are called to serve the common good. However, our students are anything but common. They breath life into all of our events and our campus each day. I couldn't be more proud of them, the amazing coaches, administration and faculty that I get to work with each day. We are looking forward to once again raising the bar this year with our community."
More information on all 28 finalists can be found on NCAA.org
