HILTON HEAD, S.C. - The University of North Georgia (UNG) athletic department brought home a pair of major honors Tuesday night at the Peach Belt Conference's annual awards dinner, earning the David R. Brunk Commissioner's Cup and the LeeAnn Noble Make-A-Wish Award.

North Georgia claimed the Commissioner's Cup for the third time in program history after also winning the award in 2016-17 and 2023-24. The honor is awarded annually to the top overall athletic department in the Peach Belt Conference based on regular-season standings and select championship results across all sports.

The Nighthawks totaled 83 points out of a possible 105 for a .790 rating to secure the conference's top athletic department distinction.

North Georgia produced strong performances throughout the 2025-26 season, capturing regular-season championships in men's soccer, women's soccer, baseball and softball. The Nighthawks also finished tied for second in women's golf, third in women's cross country, men's basketball and men's tennis, and tied for third in women's basketball.

The Commissioner's Cup standings are calculated by awarding points based on regular-season finishes in each Peach Belt-sponsored sport. Cross country, golf and track & field are determined by championship finishes. Total points are then divided by the number of sports sponsored by each institution.

The award was renamed the David R. Brunk Commissioner's Cup following Brunk's retirement in 2025 after serving 18 years as commissioner of the Peach Belt Conference.

North Georgia was also presented with the LeeAnn Noble Make-A-Wish Award for the most funds raised during the conference's annual Make-A-Wish initiative.
 
The Nighthawks raised $10,118 during the 2025-26 academic year, marking the program's 17th straight year contributing to the initiative. North Georgia increased its total by more than $5,000 from the 2024-25 campaign and has now hosted more than 21 wish reveals as part of its longstanding partnership with Make-A-Wish.