North Carolina State Athletics has named three student-athletes as the October 2026 winners of the Heart of the Pack award: Eva Long of volleyball, Hunter Providence of football and Rance Springs of men’s track.
The announcement came Thursday from the NC State Department of Athletics, with Pack Performance highlighting each recipient for the way they carry themselves beyond competition.
On Long, the group pointed to her persistence through setbacks, saying, "Eva has been steadfast in her training, and even with multiple minor setbacks, she stays on top of her rehab, training, and being a great teammate."
Providence earned praise for the way he handles his role inside the football program. Pack Performance said, " Hunter is the epitome of a great teammate.
He consistently brings a positive attitude, supports those around him, and puts the team ahead of himself. Hunter's attitude and willingness to serve others make him a valuable part of our program.
He understands that being a great teammate is about more than what you do on the field; it's about how you show up every day and impact the people around you. Hunter represents the Heart of the Pack through his attitude, selflessness, and commitment to his teammates."
Springs was recognized for his leadership in multiple areas, with Pack Performance noting, " Rance has been a great leader in the classroom, community, and his team. He has stepped up and has been in very visible spaces, representing athletics for mental health, community service, and was on the panel to represent athletes on campus recently.
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The Heart of the Pack award is given to student-athletes who meet the program’s TEAM criteria: Teammate, Effort, Attitude and Mindful. Student-athletes in every sport are evaluated and nominated each month, with Pack Performance handling the voting.
Pack Performance is an interdisciplinary group made up of professionals from strength and conditioning, academics, sports medicine, mental health and performance psychology, sports nutrition and student-athlete engagement and leadership.
Modern Woodmen of America sponsors the award. The organization describes itself as a fraternal financial services company that has offered life insurance protection for more than 140 years and was founded in 1883 to clear financial burdens - not trees.
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