HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- Georgia Southwestern State University's commitment to giving back took center stage Tuesday night as the Hurricanes earned the LeeAnn Noble Make-A-Wish Most Improved Award at the annual Peach Belt Conference awards dinner.

The award recognizes the school that showed the greatest increase in fundraising efforts for Make-A-Wish during the 2025-26 academic year. Georgia Southwestern boosted its giving by more than 97 percent from the previous year through a series of creative campus and community events organized by the GSW Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Throughout the year, GSW student-athletes led multiple fundraising initiatives, including tennis ball tosses during baseball and softball games, a dunk tank featuring student-athletes, coaches and staff members, a Mario Kart gaming tournament and several raffles designed to engage the campus community while supporting the Make-A-Wish mission.

"This recognition reflects the passion and energy our student-athletes brought to serving others throughout the year," said Assistant Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator Caitlin Downs. . "Our SAAC members did an incredible job creating fun events that brought people together while supporting an amazing cause."

The award marks the second time in the last three years GSW has earned the conference's Most Improved recognition after also receiving the honor during the 2023-24 academic year.

The Make-A-Wish partnership has been a long-standing initiative across NCAA Division II athletics. Since 2003, Division II schools and student-athletes nationwide have helped raise millions of dollars and create life-changing experiences for children and families through the organization.

The conference's Make-A-Wish honors are named the LeeAnn Noble Make-A-Wish Awards in memory of former University of North Georgia women's golfer LeeAnn Noble, a Make-A-Wish recipient whose dedication to the organization inspired countless others before her passing in 2014.

The University of North Georgia received the LeeAnn Noble Make-A-Wish Award for Most Funds Raised after contributing $10,118 during the 2025-26 academic year, marking the 17th consecutive year the Nighthawks have led the conference in fundraising efforts.