UMHB Athletics Wins NADIIIAA Community Partnerships Award for TOUCHDOWNS Event

BELTON, Texas-The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's (UMHB) athletics department received the National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators (NADIIIAA) Community Partnerships Award for its annual TOUCHDOWNS event. Leadership from UMHB athletics accepted the award on behalf of UMHB at the NADIIIAA reception at the 2026 NCAA Convention last month.

"We were honored to receive this award. TOUCHDOWNS is an extraordinary day that truly focuses not only on inclusion but also on celebrating individuals in our community with special needs. It is a blessing to share the field with them each year. Seeing all the smiling faces puts what we do in perspective," said Dr. Hunter Sims, UMHB's vice president for athletics. "We are extremely thankful for the work Sarah Harborth has done creating, designing, and organizing the hundreds of people who help accomplish such a wonderful event."

UMHB hosted its eighth annual TOUCHDOWNS event last fall, honoring individuals with special needs. Participants enjoyed spirit stations, face painting, sign making, photo booths, and tailgate games with athlete volunteers from eight Crusader athletics teams. UMHB student-athletes helped facilitate games and served as buddies to participants. Guests with special needs were also given the opportunity to join UMHB's cheer and dance teams on the sideline, while all participants had the chance to run on the field and score a touchdown during halftime. The event also celebrated an honorary captain who walked out with the team and joined them on the field for pregame activities.

"TOUCHDOWNS is one of our favorite days of the year," said UMHB's Sports Information Director Sarah Harborth. "We had no idea how things would go when we first introduced this idea nine years ago, but we have been so blessed to enjoy not only the smiling faces of our participants and families, but also our volunteers who return each year to help us pull it off. It is a day full of goodness, and I am honored to be part of it."

The event, hosted and organized by UMHB's Sports Information department in conjunction with a UMHB football game each October, began in 2017 and has grown in popularity each year. This year, more than 145 people registered and approximately 90 participated in the event activities, despite weather concerns. To ensure everyone felt included, student volunteers mailed more than 50 packs, including a TOUCHDOWNS shirt, a handwritten note, and other items, to those who could not attend the game.

"These awards celebrate the incredible impact Division III programs and administrators have on their campuses and communities," said Laura Mooney, NADIIIAA president and assistant dean of athletics & recreation at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA). "NADIIIAA is proud to honor these institutions and individuals for their commitment to service and leadership."

NADIIIAA encompasses athletics administrators from more than 350 institutions and conferences competing at the Division III level. Each year, they award three community service awards and two athletic administrator awards.