BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Rhyan Ward of Lindenwood women's soccer has been selected as the Lions' 2025-26 Ohio Valley Conference Community Service Award recipient.

The award, first bestowed in 2022-23, are based on activities that took place during the 2025-26 academic year and recognize outstanding student-athletes for the contributions they make away from the playing surface, both on campus and in the community.

During her two years in St. Charles, Ward has volunteered at the Lindenwood University Catholic Student Center, where she has served as a bible study and discipleship leader in addition to assisting with facility clean up and event support. She has also served as a St. Clement of Rome youth ministry leader, organizing and leading community service trips and activities while also guiding faith formation.

Ward has also volunteered with the Special Needs Soccer Association, a St. Louis-based soccer program for young people with disabilities. While with SPENSA, she has assisted children with disabilities in learning and playing soccer.

Ward has also served as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, organizing holiday food drives and providing meals for families in need, while also working with Birthright St. Charles to collect and organize donations for mothers and infants.

She has also provided childcare as a daycare service volunteer and resident visits, companionship, and activity engagement as a nursing home volunteer as needed.

OVC member institutions who competed in the League during the 2025-26 academic year were able to select a maximum of one male and one female student-athlete from their institution to be honored with the Community Service Award. In total 15 individuals were honored with the awards this year.

The 2025-26 recipients are:
 
• Harrison Alexander (basketball), SIUE
• Hayden Bell (rifle), Morehead State
• Carson Fichtel (football), Eastern Illinois
• Liz Galvin (soccer), Eastern Illinois
• Trey Hill (baseball), Little Rock
• Kailey Lane (golf), Tennessee Tech
• Nadia Kessling (track and field), Western Illinois
• Chloe Koons (tennis), SIUE
• Morgan Mitchell (track and field), UT Martin
• Olivia Money (softball), Southern Indiana
• Justi Nelson (soccer), Southeast Missouri
• Lamine Niang (basketball), UT Martin
• Ethan Rothschild (baseball), Southern Indiana
• Landyn Snowden (beach volleyball), Morehead State
• Tayton Swift (football), Tennessee Tech
• Madison Thomas (track and field), Little Rock
• Rhyan Ward (soccer), Lindenwood