THE HILL | Alabama A&M University men's golfer
Vicente Rodriguez and head women's bowling coach
James Moore have been selected as winners in the 2025-26 Rice FAME Group HBCU Makeda Excellence Awards.
Rodriguez was recognized as the HBCU Men's Golfer of the Year following a historic junior campaign for the Bulldogs.
The El Dorado Hills, California, native captured the individual title at the 2026 Southwestern Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championship. Rodriguez entered the final round in third place before firing a 3-under-par 69 to claim medalist honors at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Oxmoor Valley.
Rodriguez, an All-SWAC Second Team selection, also became the second golfer in Alabama A&M history to receive an individual berth to an NCAA Regional. He represented the Bulldogs at the NCAA Athens Regional, concluding the three-day event with a final-round 71 at the University of Georgia Golf Course.
Moore was named HBCU Women's Bowling Coach of the Year after guiding Alabama A&M to its fourth SWAC Bowling Tournament championship and first conference crown since 2014.
Under Moore's leadership, the fifth-seeded Bulldogs battled through the elimination bracket with victories over Florida A&M, Texas Southern and top-seeded Jackson State. Alabama A&M then defeated rival Alabama State, 4-1, in the championship match to secure the title and the SWAC's automatic berth in the NCAA Women's Bowling Tournament.
The Bulldogs finished the season with an appearance in the NCAA Rochester Regional. Moore, an Alabama A&M graduate and United States Bowling Congress Certified Bronze Level Coach, has led the program since 2017.
Named after Queen Makeda, the Queen of Sheba, the HBCU Makeda Excellence Awards recognize outstanding student-athletes, coaches, bands and band directors throughout the HBCU community. The awards celebrate achievement, leadership, wisdom and excellence.
For complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics — The Rocket City's only Division I program — visit www.aamusports.com. Follow the Bulldogs on Instagram (@aamuathletics), Facebook (aamubulldogathletics), X (@_aamuathletics) and TikTok (aamuathletics).
