Augusta University cheerleaders took center court during the Dec. 8, 2022 Education Day game at Christenberry Fieldhouse.. Tyler Strong/Augusta Good News
Augusta University cheerleaders took center court during the Dec. 8, 2022 Education Day game at Christenberry Fieldhouse.. Tyler Strong/Augusta Good News

Augusta University Athletics runner up for national excellence award

Augusta University Athletics has been honored as the national runner-up 2025 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Award of Excellence.

The NCAA Division II Award of Excellence is an accolade recognizing initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership, according to a Jan. 17 news release from Augusta University. This is the second consecutive year that Augusta Athletics has been recognized as a finalist.

An elementary school pupil cheers after a round of musical chairs at the Dec. 8, 2022 Education Day game with Augusta University men’s basketball team. Tyler Strong/Augusta Good News

Augusta Athletics was recognized for its work on the Education Day Men’s Basketball Games. Augusta hosted over 4,500 fifth graders from Richmond and Columbia counties for the annual Education Day Games on Dec. 7 and 18, 2023. The event provided students with a fun, interactive introduction to university life, exposing them to basketball in a collegiate setting. The games also included financial literacy activities, where students learned age-appropriate money management tips through trivia and interactive experiences.

The event is a collaborative effort between the AU Department of Athletics, the Richmond County School System, and the Columbia County School System. 2023 marked the first year Columbia County fifth graders joined the tradition. Students from local elementary schools sang the national anthem to start the morning before fifth graders got the chance run out the Jaghead tunnel with the players during the starting lineup introductions. The day featured energetic performances by Augusta’s cheerleaders, dance team, and athletes.

“The students attending were able to experience firsthand a first-class collegiate environment and we appreciate all the efforts made by their teachers, administrators, and support staff to make this day special for so many,” said Director of Athletics Ryan Erlacher. “It’s an event everyone on our staff looks forward to each season and I hope we can continue this tradition for years to come.”

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 were announced at the Division II business session at the 2025 NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Each finalist receives $750. In addition, as the first runner-up, Augusta will receive $1,750. All prize money is intended to be used for future SAAC initiatives or community engagement events.

Augusta Good News is an award-winning member of the Georgia Press Association. Sign up for our weekly newsletter here.

Support Local Journalism

Local stories on local people, organizations and events. That's the focus of Augusta Good News, a member of the Georgia Press Association. And you don't have to go through a paywall to find these stories. An independent voice in Augusta, Ga., Augusta Good News is not funded by a billionaire or a large corporation; it doesn't have celebrity reporters who have agents. It's local people who are invested in the community and want to tell its stories. You can support local journalism and help us expand our coverage by becoming a supporter. Through Ko-Fi, you can give once or set up a monthly gift.

Comments are closed.