Rockets Wins Third Straight Cartwright Award as Top Overall MAC School

Rockets Wins Third Straight Cartwright Award as Top Overall MAC School

The Mid-American Conference announced today that The University of Toledo has received the Cartwright Award as the top overall MAC school for the 2023-24 school year.

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.

It is the third consecutive season and fourth time overall that Toledo has won the Cartwright Award. Toledo now holds the conference record for the most Cartwright Awards and is the first school to win the award in three consecutive seasons.

"The Cartwright Award celebrates overall excellence by a member institution athletics department," said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, Mid-American Conference Commissioner. "This award allows us to acknowledge a peer's outstanding achievements in academics, athletic success and civic engagement. I extend my congratulations to The University of Toledo, its student-athletes, coaches, administrators and the entire institution for earning this distinguished recognition for the third consecutive season."

"Rocket Athletics is a powerful example of what success looks like at The University of Toledo. We could not be prouder of how our student-athletes represent UToledo on the field, in the classroom and in our community," UToledo Interim President Matt Schroeder said. "It is important to recognize all of Team Toledo in this historic achievement. Congratulations to all of our coaches, staff, athletes and our community."

The Cartwright Award is named in honor of Dr. Carol A. Cartwright, one of the most highly respected voices in higher education. Dr. Cartwright served as the president of Kent State University from 1991-2006 and president of Bowling Green from 2008-2011. Dr. 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.

"The honor of being selected by your peers as the best athletic program in the Mid-American Conference is an amazing achievement for our University - student-athletes, coaches, faculty and staff, and the community that empowers our dreams," said Toledo Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair. "Winning this award for an unprecedented third consecutive year is further validation of our commitment to excellence and serves as a tremendous foundation while we aspire to even greater heights.

"I've often said this is the golden age of Toledo Athletics as we've seen record success in academics, athletics and citizenship. While we celebrate this success, we also acknowledge that we have only scratched the surface of our collective potential. With that in mind, now is the time to double down on our collective efforts to ensure the coming years and decades shine even brighter. I'm excited to do that, together."

"To win the Cartwright Award in three consecutive years is an amazing accomplishment for our student-athletes, our coaches and our entire athletic department," 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. "All of Rocket Nation should be very proud of the achievements of our student-athletes in the classroom, in our community and in their sports."