Dacien Montford Named 2026 Golden Niner
The exercise science major received the university's top student honor during halftime of the homecoming game.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Awards
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UNC Charlotte has named third-year student Dacien Montford as the 2026 Golden Niner. The award was presented to Montford during the homecoming football game's halftime ceremony.
Why it matters
The Golden Niner award recognizes outstanding student involvement in the Charlotte community and a high level of school spirit. The distinction is determined by a student vote held throughout Niner Nation Week.
The winner receives a $500 monetary reward alongside the traditional Golden Niner Pickaxe. Selection follows a campus-wide vote among the Niner 9 finalists.
The players
Dacien Montford
He is a third-year exercise science major at UNC Charlotte and the president of The Purpose Project.
Abby Grace Bagent
She is the student who served as the university's Golden Niner for the 2025 academic year.
UNC Charlotte
This is a major public research university located in Charlotte that hosts the annual homecoming festivities.
The Purpose Project
This student organization on the UNC Charlotte campus is led by current Golden Niner Dacien Montford.
The details
Montford, a third-year exercise science major and president of The Purpose Project, was selected by his peers to represent the university. As part of his tenure, he will participate in upcoming UNC Charlotte promotional campaigns and design a personalized jacket or blazer.
Timeline
Abby Grace Bagent served as the Golden Niner in 2025.
Dacien Montford was announced as the winner on October 3, 2026.
Culture Shift
The Golden Niner award reflects the growing emphasis on student-led campus traditions that bridge academic achievement with public service. By honoring leaders like Montford, the university reinforces a trend of fostering student advocacy through formalized campus recognition.
Students and faculty can expect to see Montford representing the university in upcoming promotional campaigns throughout the academic year. The recognition highlights the active role student leaders play in shaping the university experience for the Charlotte campus community.
The takeaway
This recognition emphasizes the value of community-focused extracurricular leadership within the university environment. Students interested in future leadership roles can prepare by engaging with campus organizations such as The Purpose Project.
Further reading
For more information on local recognitions, visit the Awards section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Niner Times.
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