Kentucky State University's Men's Basketball Program has been selected as one of 28 finalists for the 2022 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence.
 
The KSU Men's Basketball Program was recognized for their Virtual Reading Program. Student-athletes on Kentucky State's Men's Basketball Team recorded themselves reading children's books and sent the recordings to Second Street School. The activity enabled the players to partner with the community while circumventing the difficulties imposed by CoVid-19.  The virtual environment allows teachers to use the recordings for years to come.

The 2022 Division II Award of Excellence is an accolade recognizing initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership. Six finalists were picked as at-large honorees for submitting a strong nomination that was not chosen as the finalist in their conference.

Division II honors its members each year for conducting events that promote student-athletes giving back and serving as leaders within their communities or on their campuses. 

"Upon arriving here, along with striving for athletic and academic excellence, one of our top priorities was building a strong relationship with the Frankfort community. Even though Covid limited us, as we weren't able to get the Second Street students on campus to our annual game, we were still able to connect with them through this activity. What makes this even more unique is the fact that the teachers can use these recordings in perpetuity, and show their students that male athletes do read", Head Coach Jamaal Jackson said. This is the second time that the Men's Basketball Program has been recognized since Jackson's arrival. In 2018, the Program was recognized in the NCAA Champion Magazine 10^th Anniversary Issue for their Career Shadowing Program. 

Per the NCAA, its NCAA Division II Award of Excellence recognizes "initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership."