COLCHESTER, Vt. - Saint Michael's College was named the NCAA Division II winner of the NCAA/Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) Opportunities and Impact Award on Thursday. Saint Michael's will join the Division I Big Ten Conference and Division III Occidental College in being further recognized on June 7-10 during the MOAA Symposium in Las Vegas.
 
The award recognizes and celebrates initiatives, programs, and efforts of athletic departments and conference offices in Divisions I, II and III that embrace environments of belonging and well-being and elevate the student-athlete voice in intercollegiate athletics communities. MOAA is an affiliate of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
 
"At Saint Michael's, we strive to create environments that foster inclusion, leadership, growth, and community on and off the playing fields," said women's basketball head coach and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Co-Adviser Shannon Bollhardt. "The events and initiatives we organize and participate in are intentional, providing an opportunity for our student-athletes to pursue what is meaningful to them, which is essential to our student-centered mission."
 
Saint Michael's Athletics helps create a lasting impact by supporting its student-athletes through countless opportunities to enhance their communities, both on-campus and off-campus. Purple Knights lead through an active SAAC and Hope Happens Here, which partners with Morgan's Message to support student-athlete mental health. Student-athletes are further interwoven into the fabric of the campus community as leaders through such programs as the Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts (MOVE), which supports communities around the country during service trips; SMC Buddies, which is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships; and Saint Michael's Fire and Rescue, a volunteer organization staffed by students that serves the local community.
 
"We are truly honored to receive the 2026 NCAA/MOAA Opportunities and Impact Award," said women's ice hockey senior and SAAC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair Annika Lavender. "This recognition means so much because it reflects the real commitment our student-athletes and staff have made to strengthening our athletics community. I'm especially proud of the way our student-athletes have shown up for one another and led important initiatives that have created a meaningful impact. The work we've done has been intentional and rooted in care for the people around us. While this award is a moment to celebrate, it also motivates us to keep building on that progress and continuing the work ahead."
 
Purple Knights student-athletes are committed to the athletic department's three C's of Community, Classroom and Competition, fulfilling the first tenet through their involvement with the annual Burlington Pride Parade, local Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, and campus Mental Health Awareness Games. The programs highlight the department's intent to create inclusive, supportive spaces while leveraging athletics as a platform for advocacy and awareness.
 
Saint Michael's also partners with Team IMPACT, connecting its student-athletes with children facing serious illness and paving the way to creating life-changing relationships that embody compassion, purpose and hope. Thanks to its efforts, Saint Michael's was named the Team IMPACT NCAA Division II Fellowship Campus of the Year for 2024-25.
 
"This honor is an acknowledgement of NCAA member schools and conference offices that intentionally create spaces and opportunities for all student-athletes, coaches and administrators to feel seen, heard and valued," said NCAA senior vice president for inclusion, education and community engagement Felicia Martin. "It is important to recognize these outstanding recipients who diligently embrace a commitment to positively impact their athletic communities and make a significant difference for all humanity."