Rockhurst has been chosen as the 2026 recipient of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Dr. Joseph J. McGowan Visionary Award, the Conference office announced Thursday.

The Hawks were chosen as this year's winner by the GLVC Awards Committee and will be formally recognized at the GLVC Spring Awards Reception in St. Louis, Missouri, on Tuesday, May 19.

Named after Dr. Joseph J. McGowan, President at Bellarmine University for 26 years who passed away on March 1, 2016, this award is presented annually to the GLVC institution that displays vision and exemplary programming to promote and advance the student-athlete experience.

Rockhurst was selected for its "Student-Athlete Mental Health Initiative", which each team had a mental health awareness game/match. During this time, players wore green accessories (ribbons, pre-wrap, socks, etc.). Green is the color of mental health awareness. For mental health awareness games, our announcer would read a PA about mental health awareness (PA listed at end of this submission). Tables would be set up where people could donate to different mental health organizations, including Athletes Against Anxiety and Depression.

Rockhurst athletes started a chapter of Morgan's Message, a non-profit that strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community. The athletes have conducted introductory meetings to kick off the chapter launch, including passing our resources and educational items. https://www.morgansmessage.org/

They had a session where the counseling center came in and spoke with our athletes about educational items but also what campus and community resources were available. The counseling center also had a separate meeting with coaches and staff to help educate the department on how to better help our student-athletes, along with processes and protocols.

Andrew Simpson, an author who specializes in student-athlete mental health, met with the athletes via Zoom to discuss this topic, along with his two books called "Athlete I'm Talking to You" and "The Unstoppable Athlete." Rockhurst bought copies of Andrew's books to start an athlete mental health library in weight room. They also ran a social media campaign during Suicide Prevention Month.

Rockhurst also conducted panels with alums and counseling center to talk about "Life After Athletics." This including the transition out of sport, due to injury or graduation.

The Rockhurst Sports Medicine Department partnered with our counseling center on campus to create and Injured  Athlete Support Group.

P.A. Script
Fans - You'll notice that the Hawks are wearing green colored accent pre-wrap today. This is to show their support for anyone battling mental distress, anxiety, or depression. The Rockhurst chapter of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee is sponsoring this focus for today's match. For anyone that is dealing with their own mental stress, please find someone to talk with. Remember the new national suicide and crisis hotline can be
reached by simply dialing 9-8-8. If you would like to lend your support to student-athlete mental well-being, please find any of the QR codes posted around the field to donate to a great organization helping student-athletes. One hundred percent of all funds raised will create resources for anyone struggling with mental health through donations to the Athletes Against Anxiety and Depression Foundation. Your donations will make it possible for the organization to provide free therapy to individuals in need of taking the first steps toward healing. Help A-A-A-D-F Be The Change today.