MACON, Ga. — The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference celebrated excellence across its membership Wednesday, recognizing
Morehouse College,
Tuskegee University and three athletics administrators for their leadership, service and impact during the 2026 SIAC Football Media Day presented by Georgia Power at the Tubman African American Museum in Macon, Georgia.
Morehouse College was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Community Impact Award, established through Georgia Power’s partnership with the SIAC. The award recognizes SIAC institutions in Georgia that excel in community service, campus engagement and charitable donations during the academic year.
Southern Company Senior Recruiting Consultant Kenneth Holiday presented the award. Holiday works extensively in campus recruitment and student programming, engaging with universities and overseeing diversity and HBCU recruitment initiatives throughout the region.
Tuskegee University earned the SIAC Citizenship Award for the second consecutive year after recording the highest point total through events and activities completed by its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Tuskegee was also recognized as the recipient of the 2025-26 SIAC Women’s Commissioner’s Cup after winning conference championships in indoor track and field, tennis and outdoor track and field.
The 2025-26 SIAC Men’s Commissioner’s Cup was awarded to Morehouse after the institution won conference championships in cross country, indoor track and field, basketball and outdoor track and field.
The conference also introduced several inaugural awards honoring administrators for their accomplishments and contributions to their institutions and the SIAC. Honorees were nominated and selected by their respective SIAC committees.
Tuskegee University Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Reginald Ruffin received the 2025-26 SIAC Willie Washington Athletic Director of the Year Award for his continued leadership and service. Ruffin has served as chair of the SIAC Athletic Directors Council and was recently recognized as a 2025-26 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year honoree in the NCAA Division II category.
The award is named for Benedict College Athletic Director and 2024 SIAC Hall of Fame inductee
Willie Washington. Washington’s career in collegiate athletics spans more than 40 years, and the honor recognizes his remarkable contributions to the advancement of the SIAC.
Clark Atlanta University Associate Athletic Director for Communications and Marketing
Justin Mordecai was named the 2025-26 SIAC Edythe Bradley Sports Information Director of the Year in recognition of his outstanding work at CAU and his support of other SIAC institutions throughout the year.
Edythe Yvonne Bradley became the first woman to serve as sports information director at Albany State University in 1997. She was the second woman to hold the position at an SIAC institution and also served as chair of the SIAC Sports Information Committee. The award honors her memory and significant contributions to the SIAC.
Tuskegee University Deputy Chief Athletic Director Deborah Jones-Rodgers was named the 2025-26 SIAC Senior Woman Administrator of the Year and the 2025-26 SIAC Compliance Administrator of the Year. Her leadership and dedication are widely recognized throughout the conference. The dual honors reflect the many roles Jones-Rodgers fulfills as she works to support SIAC student-athletes and member institutions.
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and seven women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.