The Mid-American Conference announced today that The University of Toledo is the recipient of the Cartwright Award for its excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship during the 2022-23 school year.
It is the second consecutive season and third time overall that Toledo has won the Cartwright Award. This year’s award ties the conference record for the most Cartwright Awards of all time, and Toledo becomes only the second school ever to win the award in consecutive years.
Toledo Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair and MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher pose with two trophies presented to UToledo last year including the 2021-22 Cartwright Award. UToledo received the Cartwright Award for its excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship during the 2022-23 school year, becoming only the second school to win the MAC award in consecutive years.
The Cartwright Award is an institutional award presented annually to one university in the MAC. A committee with representation from all 12 institutions selected the Cartwright Award winner from nominations submitted based upon the criteria of excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship.
“The Cartwright Award celebrates overall excellence by a member institution athletics department,” said MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher. “The award provides an opportunity for the membership to recognize a peer for this prestigious award for academic achievement, athletics success and civic engagement. I commend The University of Toledo, its student-athletes, coaches and administrators and the entire institution for being selected for this honor.”
“A huge congratulations to our student-athletes and coaching staff for making history by winning back-to back Cartwright Awards in recognition of your successes on the playing field, in the classroom and by giving back to our community,” said UToledo President Gregory Postel. “Rocket Athletics is an important part of our University, and we are proud to have such strong ambassadors for UToledo earning multiple MAC titles and setting records for high grade point averages.”
The Cartwright Award is named in honor of Dr. Carol A. Cartwright, one of the most highly respected voices in higher education. Cartwright served as the president of Kent State University from 1991-2006 and president of Bowling Green from 2008-2011. Cartwright previously was the vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of California at Davis and dean for undergraduate programs and vice provost at Pennsylvania State University. She has served on the NCAA Board of Directors and is a member of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. The Cartwright Award will be presented to Toledo at a football game later this fall.
“Winning the Cartwright Award for the second consecutive year is a validation of the commitment to excellence of our entire university – student-athletes, coaches, faculty and staff,” said Toledo Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair. “We are always striving for success in academics, athletics and citizenship, so to be recognized as the best in the Mid-American Conference for the second straight year is truly rewarding. Our goal now is to challenge ourselves to reach even greater heights in the future.”
“This is a tremendous award for our student-athletes, our athletic department, our University and all of Rocket Nation,” said Kim Nigem, a professor in the John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation who also serves as the University’s Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR). “In my role as Faculty Athletics Representative, I am continually impressed by the achievements of our student-athletes in the classroom, in our community and in their sports. It is certainly gratifying to see this recognition of their hard work. It makes me proud to be a Rocket.”
