Mars Hill recognized with DII Award of Excellence

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mars Hill University was named the second runner-up for the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence, as presented at the NCAA Convention held in Nashville, Tennessee from January 14-17th.

Each finalist received $750 along with additional prize money per finish. Mars Hill received an extra $1,500 for their third-place finish. All prize money is intended to be used for future SAAC initiatives or community engagement events.

Per the NCAA's finalists release: "Twenty-two schools and four conferences have been named finalists for the 2025 Division II Award of Excellence, an accolade recognizing initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership. Four 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 selected the top three finalists, who will be announced at the Division II business session on Jan. 17 at the 2025 NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee."

Mars Hill University students racked up over 200 hours of combined community service in the wake of Hurricane Helene's disastrous devastation that occurred in late September. Over the span of two months, several Mars Hill University athletic teams began helping not only the Mars Hill campus, but surrounding communities with relief efforts.

Below are the following teams and their community engagement and community service efforts during this trying time in Western North Carolina.

Men's and Women Cross Country

• Saturday, Sept. 28th - Serving/Preparing Meals at Mars Hill Baptist Church

•Sunday, Sept. 29th - Serving/Preparing Meals at Mars Hill Baptist Church

• Monday, Sept. 30 - Serving/Preparing Meals and loading/organizing supplies at

Mars Hill Baptist Church

• Tuesday, Oct. 1 -Serving/Preparing Meals and loading/organizing supplies at

Mars Hill Baptist Church

• Wednesday, Oct. 2 - Mucking/Cleaning in Marshall and Hot Springs

• Sunday, Oct. 6th - Serving/Preparing Meals and loading/organizing supplies at

Mars Hill Baptist Church

• Monday, Oct. 7th - Loading/organizing supplies at Mars Hill Baptist Church

• Tuesday, Oct. 8th - Storm Cleanup and Repair

• Wednesday, Oct. 9th - Cleaning and Organizing Supplies and Delivery in

Burnsville

• Thursday, Oct. 10th - Storm Cleanup and Repair

• Thursday, Oct. 31st - Trunk or Treat

Acrobatics and Tumbling

• Sept. 21- Special Olympics Cornhole Tournament

• Oct. 10- Hurricane Helene Relief at Mars Hill Baptist Church

• Oct. 31- Trunk or Treat, Mars Hill, N.C.

• Nov. 2- Hurricane Helene Cleanup in Marshall, N.C.

Swimming

• Swannanoa: All our Spanish speaking swimmers and head coach went to a couple

Spanish speaking communities to translate and help communicate information.

The National Guard and community leaders needed help translating their needs

and information between them.

• Hot Springs: Went to a community members' house/property in Hot Springs to

help repair the property and house, remove debris, open water canals to help the

flooding water to be circulated, etc. They were able to fulfill a whole month of

work in one day working as a team and following the owner's house instructions.

• Marshall: All members of the team were part of the cleaning and removing of

debris and mud of the city of Marshall. Some of our team members went a couple

of days in a row to complete this task. Also, our full team was assigned to a

specific house in downtown Marshall to remove debris and mud.

• Asheville: Went to a community kitchen to serve food and to a distribution site to

hand out supplies.

• Mars Hill: Mars Hill Baptist Church organizing, sorting, and carrying donations.

Women's Soccer

• Oct. 2-4 at Madison High School helping clean up their campus.

Men's Lacrosse

• Gold's Gym supplies distribution site

• Red Cross relief effort location

• Spring Creek Tavern: Clearing mud out of the building

• Supply collection from families and friends in player's hometowns.

Baseball

• Harris Middle School distribution center.

Women's Basketball

• 10/8 - West Yancey Volunteer Fire Department

• 10/9 - West Yancey Volunteer Fire Department

• 10/10 - West Yancey Volunteer Fire Department

• 10/15 - West Yancey Volunteer Fire Department

• 10/18 - Played basketball with kids out of school on campus

• 10/20 - Played basketball with kids out of school on campus

Men's Soccer

• 10/8 - Mars Hill Baptist Church

• 10/10 - Western N.C. Fairgrounds

Softball

• Madison County Fairgrounds – Distribution center

• Big Pollow Brewery – Aided in cleanup efforts

• Mars Hill University – Put together beds for people in need of housing

• Mars Hill Baptist Church – Distribution center

Football

• Loaded and unloaded supplies
• Cleaned up debris in local communities
• Volunteered at Mars Hill Baptist Church
• Helped elderly patients move at Madison Manor

Below is a testimonial, celebrating the volunteer work and impact our students made from Dr. Sandy Bargainnier, professor at SUNY Oswego.

 "President Floyd and campus leaders,

   I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude and recognize some truly

exceptional Mars Hill University students.

   I had planned to move my elderly father from Mars Hill Assisted Living Manor to

Syracuse, N.Y., during the week of October 1st. However, Hurricane Helene completely

upended those plans—my flights, rental van, and arrangements were all canceled.

Determined to get my father to safety, I rented a van in Syracuse and drove down to

Tennessee. After monitoring social media for updates, I learned of a mountain detour

open to Mars Hill on Monday, September 30th. Armed with a map, food, and water, I

arrived at Mars Hill Manor around 1 p.m.

   The drive was challenging, but I was even more overwhelmed when I found that my

father was on the third floor, with no elevator, lights, or cell service. Moving him, his cat,

and all his belongings alone seemed impossible.

   As a college professor for 35 years, I thought there must be students who could lend a

hand. I drove to Lunsford Residential Apartments, knocked on doors, and asked for

help. I was exhausted, stressed, and anxious to move my father before nightfall or more

rain blocked the mountain pass. Despite the lack of power, the doors were open, and I

found 11 or 12 outstanding students who immediately came to assist me. Some were

from Charlotte and could not get home; others were student-athletes from women's

basketball, track and field, cross-country, baseball, and football. A few were simply good

Samaritans living in the residence hall. Without hesitation, they all pitched in.

   These students were incredible. They carried multiple loads down three flights of dimly

lit stairs and helped load everything into the rental van. Their kindness and

consideration towards my father, who was understandably overwhelmed, his frightened

cat and the curious residents and staff of Mars Hill Manor were nothing short of

miraculous.

   I had nothing to offer them but water and my heartfelt gratitude.

In a time when we often hear negative stories about college students, I want to share a

different narrative. These remarkable young adults stepped up during a catastrophic

moment in Western N.C. history and helped strangers in need. Although I didn't catch

their names in the rush of events, I have attached a photo I took of them. I hope it

captures the compassion and humanity they displayed.

   They deserve to be recognized for their incredible actions as extraordinary individuals

and representatives of your great university.

   With sincere thanks,

Dr. Sandy Bargainnier

(her dad Roger and Punkin the cat)"

To view the full list of finalists, please click here.