COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Great Midwest Athletic Conference is pleased to announce Kentucky Wesleyan as the inaugural Great Midwest Community Engagement Award recipient.
 
The Community Engagement Award is an award conceptualized by the Great Midwest Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The award recognizes an institution within the conference for its success in community service hours and the impact the contributions have on the community.
 
“Kentucky Wesleyan College is honored to win the inaugural Community Engagement Award,” said Wiley Cain, Great Midwest SAAC Chair and KWC student-athlete. “I am proud of the positive impact my fellow athletes have had on the Owensboro community. I have enjoyed the deep community formed between teams supporting each other! One Team Wesleyan has been in full effect over the last academic year.”
 
The Panthers completed more than 3,700 community service hours during the 2021-22 academic year. Kentucky Wesleyan student-athletes participated in various events in the Owensboro community including a project called “Build a Bed.” The goal of this service project is to provide beds for children in the community who do not have a bed of their own to sleep at night. With the help of more than 100 Kentucky Wesleyan student-athletes, 40 beds were built for children in the Owensboro community in the fall of 2021.
 
The award also recognizes the willingness to support fellow student-athletes. During the 2021-22 academic year, Kentucky Wesleyan had more than 20 athletes at 59 sporting events to cheer on other Panthers.
 
The award was presented to Kentucky Wesleyan SAAC members at the annual Great Midwest SAAC summit held in Columbus, Ohio.