Southern Adventist University's intramural program has always been popular with students, but now it's not just the people who attend the school who appreciate all that it offers. Best Colleges, an academic review website, has placed the university on a short list of colleges that they deem will provide the best intramural sports programs in the country for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Best Colleges was created as a way to review and recognizes positive aspects of schools outside of academic programs. One of these other important areas is an intramural sports program. Through a combination of the number of intramural sports on their roster, the comprehensive qualities of team management and coaching, and surveys sent out to current students, Best Colleges determined that Southern's program was one of the top in the nation.

"It is a true honor to be recognized by the website," said Mike Boyd, former intramural director and current professor in the School of Health and Kinesiology. "God has blessed the program in incredible ways."

Southern offers a wide range of intramural sports year-round to both its students and employees. Between 1400-1500 students participate in at least one sport each year, enjoying activities that foster a healthy social environment and physical wellness.

"Southern's philosophy is to get as many participants involved as possible. You just can't do that with an interscholastic program," Boyd said. "Our intramural program provides opportunities for all students to participate."