INDIANAPOLIS - The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's Gannon University has been named one of 27 finalists (26 institutions and one conference) in Division II for the 2026 Award of Excellence. This award highlights initiatives that exemplify the Division II philosophy of community engagement and student-athlete leadership.

Gannon was selected thanks to it's Make-A-Wish initiative, raising $14,339 for the organization during the 2024–25 academic year, ranking second nationally and contributing to the conference’s Division II-leading fundraising total. Student-athlete fundraising efforts included themed games, raffles, bake sales, and events like the women’s lacrosse Wish Stars Campaign and acrobatics and tumbling’s Make-A-Wish meet. The year culminated in a wish reveal granting a child’s trip to LEGOLAND.

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 on Friday, Jan. 16.

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. Other nominees from the PSAC included Slippery Rock University and its All-Girls Sports Camp.