ATLANTA, Ga. (July 9, 2026) – The Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) has announced the winner for the prestigious Man of the Year award. This award recognizes the top male student-athlete for his athletic, academic, service, and leadership involvement during the academic year.

Huntingdon’s Jack Burr has been named the 2026 CCS Man of the Year honoree. He is the first Huntingdon men’s golfer to receive this honor.

“This year’s Man and Woman of the Year nominees represented the very best of the CCS and reflected the depth of talent, leadership, and character across our membership,” said Beth Vansant, Commissioner of the Collegiate Conference of the South. “We are incredibly proud to recognize Jack Burr and Paige Kluba as this year’s honorees. Burr’s career at Huntingdon was nothing short of remarkable, as he established himself as a record-setting student-athlete within the CCS and one of the most accomplished competitors in our conference’s young history. Paige’s impact reached far beyond statistics. She leaves a lasting mark on her teammates, Piedmont University, and the CCS through her service, leadership, and commitment to elevating the student-athlete voice. Through her work with National SAAC and her example as a Division III student-athlete, Paige set a high standard for what it means to lead, serve, and represent something larger than yourself. We congratulate both honorees and all of this year’s nominees for the excellence they brought to their campuses, teams, and communities.”

Jack Burr is a graduate of Huntingdon College where he majored in Communications and was a men’s golfer for the top ranked Huntingdon men’s golf team.

Burr’s athletic resume speaks for itself. Over four seasons with the Hawks, he was named the CCS Golfer of the Year three times, earned First Team All-CCS honors in each of his four seasons, and was selected as the CCS Rookie of the Year following the 2022-23 campaign. His consistency and competitive excellence made him a fixture among the nation’s best Division III golfers, earning PING All-Region recognition in all four seasons and First Team GCAA All-America honors in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

He was also named a Division III Jack Nicklaus Award finalist in both 2025 and 2026, further cementing his place among the top players in the country. During his career, Burr collected three individual tournament victories, nine top three finishes, and finished as the CCS individual runner-up in both 2023 and 2026. He was also selected as CCS Golfer of the Week 15 times, a reflection of the week-to-week excellence that defined his time at Huntingdon.

Burr’s impact helped elevate Huntingdon to a historic 2026 season. Behind his stellar play, the Hawks were ranked No. 1 in the nation from Oct. 31 through the remainder of the season, captured five tournament victories, and posted nine top three team finishes. His leadership and consistency helped position Huntingdon among the premier programs in Division III men’s golf.

His name also sits throughout the CCS record book. Burr holds the conference record for lowest second round with a 70, finishing two-under par, and ranks inside the top five in nearly every individual category in the CCS men’s golf record book.

While Burr’s accomplishments on the course were exceptional, his academic success was equally impressive. He was recognized as the Huntingdon Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the 2025-26 Alabama Power Huntingdon Athletic Awards Ceremony and graduated summa cum laude in 2026. He earned Scholar All-America honors in 2023 and 2024, was inducted into the Alpha Beta Honor Society in 2025, and was named to the Dean’s List of Honors in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Burr was also a four-time CCS Academic All-Conference selection, earning the honor each year from 2023 through 2026. His ability to balance the demands of national-level competition with sustained academic excellence made him a model student-athlete for Huntingdon and the conference.

From his first season as CCS Rookie of the Year to his final year as a nationally recognized All-American and Huntingdon’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Burr built a career defined by consistency, discipline, and excellence.

Here’s what Jack had to say about his journey:

“Being a scholar-athlete has had a huge impact on who I am today. Throughout college, I've learned how to balance the demands of school, athletics, and everyday life while staying committed to my goals. It hasn't always been easy, but those challenges have taught me discipline, time management, and the importance of showing up and giving my best effort every day. Athletics has taught me some of the most valuable lessons I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. I've experienced success, but I've also faced disappointment and setbacks. Those moments taught me how to stay positive, work harder, and keep moving forward even when things don't go my way. I've learned that growth often comes from the difficult moments, and that resilience is one of the most important qualities a person can have.

Being part of a team has also shaped me in many ways. I've built friendships that will last a lifetime and learned how important it is to support others, communicate well, and be someone people can rely on. My coaches and teammates have pushed me to become a better athlete, student, and person. Looking back on my college experience, I'm grateful for everything being a scholar-athlete has taught me. It has given me confidence in myself, taught me how to handle challenges, and prepared me for whatever comes next. The lessons I've learned will stay with me long after my time in college is over.”

Here’s what others had to say about Jack:
Eric Levanda, Huntingdon College’s Director of Athletics

“Jack has been a model student-athlete since he first set foot on our campus both on and off the course,” said Eric Levanda, Huntingdon College’s Director of Athletics. “He's the latest in a long line of highly decorated golfers at Huntingdon and I couldn't be prouder that he is our first recipient of the CCS Man of the Year award.”

Dave Schreyer, Huntingdon's Men's Golf Head Coach

"Jack has represented our program not only as a great player but also as a leader.  He is very unselfish with his time. He assists with the growth of the younger players, takes pride in leading his team and always gives a fresh perspective to visiting recruits," said Huntingdon's Men's Golf Head Coach Dave Schreyer. "Jack Burr is absolutely a student athlete success story. It was my honor to help direct his college career."

Courtney Harville, Huntingdon’s Associate Athletic Director/SWA & Director of Operations

“It has been such a joy to watch Jack grow as a student-athlete. He pushed himself to be the best student-athlete he could be, while encouraging his teammates to do the same,” said Courtney Harville, Huntingdon’s Associate Athletic Director/SWA & Director of Operations. “I am thrilled that Jack's hard work and determination has been acknowledged, and the Huntingdon community is so proud of him for becoming our first CCS Man of the Year recipient.”

Jack will receive this honor during an on-campus ceremony in the fall.

ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH (CCS)
The CCS is an NCAA Division III athletic conference that began play during the 2022-23 academic year. The conference features nine member institutions (Agnes Scott College, Asbury University, Belhaven University, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, and Piedmont University) and sponsors championships across 16 sports. In addition to sharing the member institutions' geographic identity, the name 'Collegiate Conference of the South' is indicative of a shared commitment to academic excellence, which is commensurate with the NCAA Division III philosophy.
 
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