Grand Rapids, Mich. – A new academic year brings a new opportunity to celebrate the very best of Aquinas College Athletics.

Throughout the 2026–27 academic year, the Aquinas Athletic Communications Department will once again spotlight the excellence, dedication, leadership and spirit that make the AQ community so special — while providing new opportunities for members of the Aquinas community to help recognize the people, moments and stories deserving of a larger spotlight.

Nominate. Recognize. Celebrate. The AQ Way.

It is a simple idea with an important purpose: give the Aquinas community an opportunity to help identify and recognize the student-athletes and supporters who make a difference every day, while also helping Athletic Communications uncover the stories that make Saints Athletics unique.

The Saints of the Month tradition returns for 2026–27, recognizing members of the Aquinas Athletics community who stand out through performance, leadership, character and service.

Each month, one female and one male in-season student-athlete will be recognized for not only what they accomplish in competition, but also their commitment in the classroom, leadership and impact on the Aquinas community.

Also returning for its second year is the Saint Support Superstar of the Month, an important part of the Saints of the Month recognition program that turns the spotlight toward those who make a difference beyond the field of competition. Head coaches, assistant coaches, graduate assistants, athletic administrators and staff members who consistently go above and beyond in serving Aquinas student-athletes are eligible for recognition.

"There are so many great things happening throughout Aquinas Athletics that never show up in a box score," Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Athletic Communications Joey Sutherlin said. "We want to recognize outstanding performances, but we also want to celebrate leadership, character, service and the people who make a difference when nobody is watching. To me, that is part of doing things the AQ Way, and we want our entire community to help us find and celebrate those stories."

"Our student-athletes, coaches and staff see things every day that we may not always get the opportunity to see," Sports Information Director Kennadie Minerich said. "That is why we want the AQ community involved in the nomination process. If someone is making a difference, going above and beyond or representing Aquinas in a special way, we want to hear about it and have the opportunity to recognize them."

Now, We Need YOU!

Know an in-season AQ student-athlete whose talent, work ethic, leadership and character deserve to be recognized?

Know a coach, graduate assistant, athletic administrator or staff member whose dedication to Aquinas student-athletes makes a difference every day?

Nominate them!

Who Can Be Nominated?

Each month, Saints of the Month honors three members of the AQ Athletics community:

• Female Saint of the Month — an in-season female student-athlete
• Male Saint of the Month — an in-season male student-athlete
• Saint Support Superstar of the Month — a head coach, assistant coach, graduate assistant, athletic department administrator, athletic staff member or another deserving member of the AQ Athletics community

How to Nominate

The nomination process is quick and simple.

Those submitting a nomination will be asked to identify their nominee and the nominee's role within AQ Athletics and, most importantly, explain why that person deserves to be recognized. The nominator may also provide their name and email address, although that information is optional.

Nominations can be submitted through the Saints of the Month Nomination Form.

Nominations may also be sent directly to Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Athletic Communications Joey Sutherlin at sutherlinj@aquinas.edu.

Have an AQ Athletics Story to Tell?

Not every great AQ Athletics story comes with a trophy, record or award attached to it.

Throughout the year, Aquinas Athletic Communications also wants to hear from the AQ community about interesting stories, people and moments that deserve to be shared.

Have an idea for a feature involving an AQ student-athlete, coach, team, administrator or support staff member? Know about an inspiring personal journey, unique accomplishment, team tradition, community connection, academic success, behind-the-scenes contribution or simply something interesting connected to Aquinas Athletics?

Send it our way.

"Athletic Communications is always looking for ways to tell more meaningful and complete stories about the people who make Aquinas Athletics what it is," Sports Information Director Kennadie Minerich said. "There are stories happening within our teams and throughout our department that Joey and I may not always know about firsthand. Giving our student-athletes, coaches, staff and AQ community a way to share those ideas will help us uncover more of those stories and continue improving the feature content we produce throughout the year."

A submitted idea could develop into an AQSaints.com feature story, student-athlete or staff spotlight, social media feature, video content or another storytelling opportunity across AQ Athletics platforms.

And submitting an idea does not mean you have to write the story.

You bring us the idea. We'll help tell the story.

Feature suggestions can be submitted through the AQ Athletics Feature Story Suggestion Form.

The Nelly's: Nominate All Year Long

Recognition does not stop with the monthly awards.

Throughout the entire 2026–27 academic year, members of the AQ community can also submit nominations and ideas for The Nelly's, Aquinas Athletics' end-of-year celebration highlighting the performances, personalities, memorable moments and achievements that helped define the year in Saints Athletics.

Rather than trying to remember everything when the season comes to an end, nominations can be submitted throughout the year as those moments happen.

Nominations can be submitted anytime through The Nelly's Nomination Form.

Together, these opportunities give the Aquinas community multiple ways to participate:

• Nominate the student-athletes and supporters deserving recognition.
• Share the stories Athletic Communications should be telling.
• Remember the moments worthy of consideration for The Nelly's.

Every great season is built by more than what happens on the scoreboard. It is built by student-athletes who lead, teammates who inspire, coaches who teach and staff members who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

Now, the entire Aquinas community can help make sure those people, stories and moments do not go unnoticed.

Nominate. Recognize. Celebrate. The AQ Way.

Because recognizing those who make a difference — and telling their stories — is another reason it's a great day to be a Saint.