After receiving a record number of entries, the NCAA announced 26 conference and independent winners of the 2014 Division II Award of Excellence, recognizing events and activities that exemplify the type of community engagement the division emphasizes.
Examples of events the award seeks to recognize include activities associated with Division II partner Make-A-Wish, military appreciation, community engagement, game environment, student-athlete leadership development and educational programming.
Two national finalists and the overall Division II Award of Excellence winner will be announced during the Division II Business Session at the NCAA Convention on Jan. 18. The national winner will receive a cash prize of $1,500 and a nationally televised football or basketball game on CBS Sports Network during the 2014-15 season. The runner-up receives a $1,250 cash prize and the second-runner-up receives $1,000 to be used on future community engagement initiatives.
The 26 conference and independent winners of the 2014 Division II Award of Excellence are each awarded $500 for the event or activity in which they were recognized. In addition, for the first time in the award’s existence, a single conference produced two award recipients with Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rivals Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan working together toward granting the wish of Upper Peninsula Make-A-Wish child Madison.
The conference and independent winners for the 2014 Division II Award of Excellence include:
CACC: Concordia College (NY), Fourth Annual Jimmy Sayegh Game, signing of Eli. The event partners with Team IMPACT to allow 6-year-old Eli to join the men’s basketball team.
CCAA: University of California, San Diego, Row for a Cure.
CIAA: Virginia Union University, Youth Bowl
ECC: Dowling College, Walk for Wishes
GAC: Arkansas Tech University, Goodwill Project
GLIAC (2): Michigan Technological University and Northern Michigan University, Madison’s Wish
GLVC: Great Lakes Valley Conference, “March on Main Street”/Youth Basketball Clinic
G-MAC: Ursuline College, A.R.R.O.W.S. Mentoring Program
GNAC: University of Mary, North Dakota Special Olympics State Bowling Tournament.
GSC: Christian Brothers University, CBU Deckhands
Heartland: Texas A&M International University –Patriot Day service for Volunteers Serving the Need (VSTN).
Independents: Palm Beach Atlantic University, Jam the Gym
LSC: Lone Star Conference, Spring Sports Festival
MEC: Notre Dame College (Ohio), 40 Days of Lent, 40 Days of Service
MIAA: Lindenwood University, Sellout for Sterling.
NE-10: Adelphi University, Cans for Cancer
NSIC: Northern State University - -Day of Champions
PBC: University of Montevallo, Coming Home for Our Friends of Athletics
PSAC: Kutztown University, Community Night
PWC: Chaminade University of Honolulu, Xhosa Fray Chinn Gets His Wish
RMAC: Adams State University, Think Pink weekend
SAC: Wingate University, Special Olympics Field Day
SIAC: Benedict College, It All Starts with a Playground
SSC: Lynn University, Family Fun Day
