Ball State Athletics Earns MAC’s Cartwright Award for Program Excellence

The Mid-American Conference honored Ball State with the Dr. Carol A. Cartwright Award, recognizing the top athletics department for combined success in academics, competition, and community service.

The Mid-American Conference (MAC) presented the Dr. Carol A. Cartwright Award to Ball State University for its overall program excellence in academics, athletics, and citizenship during the 2024-25 school year, marking the first time in program history that the Cardinals have earned this honor since its inception in 2008.

“To be recognized by our peers as the top athletics department in the Mid-American Conference is an incredible honor,” Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell said. “I am ecstatic for our athletics department to be recognized for excellence in academics, athletics, and citizenship. I credit our student-athletes and the devoted coaches, staff, and community members who serve and mentor them.”

All 19 Ball State Athletics programs recorded a team GPA above 3.0 in both semesters, with the department achieving its highest spring semester GPA (3.487) and its best full-year GPA in 10 years (3.46). Additionally, the department maintained an overall Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992, with five programs earning perfect scores of 1,000.

On the field, Ball State programs delivered standout performances across numerous sports, including a MAC championship in women’s basketball and strong seasons for baseball, softball, men’s golf, and women’s volleyball. Track and Field’s Jenelle Rogers, ’25, collected her fourth All-America honor, while Kenli Nettles advanced to the NCAA Championships. Gymnastics had two individual NCAA qualifiers, women’s golfer Jasmine Driscoll won a MAC title and competed in the NCAA regional, and men’s golfer li Khan, ’25, qualified for the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship.

Beyond academics and athletics, Ball State student-athletes contributed more than 4,200 hours of service throughout Muncie and Delaware County. Their efforts included food drives that provided over 1,000 pounds of donations, volunteering with local senior living centers and adaptive sports programs, and environmental initiatives such as a river clean-up.