LOUISVILLE, Ky. – At the annual NCCAA convention, the NCCAA recognized Daniel Anderson as the 2016  Male Game Plan 4 LIFE Character Award recipient while recognizing Maranatha Baptist University as the 2016 recipient of the NCCAA Presidential Award for Excellence.

Anderson (pictured below with 2016 female recipient Tera Weyer) is the third Sabercat to receive the award since the award's introduction in 2011, and the reception of the Presidential Award for MBU marks the third straight year that Sabercats have received the honor.

Anderson finished his fourth year on the Men's Soccer team in 2015 after helping the team win the 2014 NCCAA Division II National Championship. Anderson graduate with Magna Cum Laude honors for his Pastoral Studies undergraduate degree, and received the Institution's highest honor in receiving the MBU President's Award. The graduate's leadership roles have extended past the soccer field to included Society Chaplain, Student Body Council Chaplain, volunteering in local church ministry, and involvement in MBU Men's Soccer Ministry Team.

Anderson's sport-related honors have included NCCAA Scholar-Athlete, MBU Scholar-Athlete, Men's Soccer Jamie O'Dell Spiritual Leadership Award (MBU), and a 4-Year Athletic Award (MBU).

According to Head Coach Jeff Pill, Anderson's impact was immediate and lasting: "[Anderson] quickly established himself as a leader of the team. Known for his passion to serve others and his Lord, he quickly established himself not only as a fine athlete, but one who had a clear understanding of what it meant to be a Christian athlete." Dr. Marty Marriott, President of MBU said, "Daniel has grown into a man who has impeccable moral character and has been one of the campus' true servant leaders."

The Presidential Award for Excellence is the award presented to the leading institution of both Division I and Division II based on that institution's placement at the national championships for the school year.

With two national championship titles (Volleyball, Men's Cross Country), a runner-up finish (Women's Soccer), and third-place honors for Women's Cross Country, the Sabercats emerged as the leading institution for Division II for the 2015-16 year.

MBU Athletics Director Rob Thompson (left) praised the industriousness of the Sabercat Athletes in their third straight reception of the President's Award: "It was my honor to accept the 2015-16 President's Award on behalf of Maranatha's student-athletes and coaches. This award is a symbol of the thousands of hours of preparation, dedication and efforts of our student-athletes and coaches. It is an honor to serve as the Athletics Director of such a fine group of individuals and teams."

Click here for more on the 2016 Awards (courtesy of the NCCAA)