D’Youville Named At-Large Finalist for 2026 NCAA Award of Excellence

D'Youville University has been named an at-large finalist for the 2026 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence. This award highlights initiatives that exemplify the Division II philosophy of community engagement and student-athlete leadership. D'Youville is one of 26 Division II schools and one conference to be nominated for the award.

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. Those honorees, including the winner, will be announced at the Division II business session this month at the 2026 NCAA Convention in the Washington, D.C., area.

 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.

 

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D'Youville Athletics partnered with the Ralph Wilson Conservancy Park to build a new playground on Buffalo's West Side. Over a three-day period, D'Youville student-athletes contributed more than 250 service hours working side by side with neighbors to mix concrete, assemble playground equipment, paint, and landscape. Their efforts brought to life an inclusive and engaging space that will soon welcome families, children, and community members from across Buffalo.

When the playground officially opened just weeks later, 75 additional student-athletes attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, celebrating alongside the families and children whose lives will be enriched by this new community space. D'Youville's project strengthened student-athletes lessons in leadership, empathy, and civic engagement.

The Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy anticipates that the 250-million-dollar redeveloped park will draw one to two million visitors annually, positioning it as one of the most vital health and wellness assets in the region. For D'Youville student-athletes, contributing to this project was more than volunteerism, it was about building a healthier, more equitable community.

For more information, please visit the NCAA's release.