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50th Anniversary of Division II

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50th Anniversary Resources

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50th Anniversary Gold Award and Scholarship

The Gold Award will recognize two individuals who have made a positive impact in Division II. Schools and conferences recently submitted a total of 231 nominations comprised of a current or former student-athlete, coach, faculty or administrator from an active member school or conference who have distinguished themselves in the areas of athletics or professional achievement, service and leadership. Overall winners will be recognized at the 2024 NCAA Convention in Phoenix.

Additionally, the division will provide a commemorative $1,000 50th anniversary scholarship opportunity for student-athletes from active member schools who exhibit the core values of Division II and have not yet exhausted their athletics eligibility. Nominations for the scholarship open Jan. 22, 2024. Recipients will be announced during the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in Orlando, Florida.

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Celebration Calendar

Aug. 7, 2023: Celebration kickoff.

Sept. 18, 2023: 50th Anniversary Gold Award nominations due.

Fall Championships: Anniversary celebration.

Jan. 10-13, 2024: NCAA Convention.

Jan. 22, 2024: 50th Anniversary Scholarship nominations open.

Feb. 22, 2024: Division II Day.

Winter/Spring Championships: Anniversary celebration.

June 1-8, 2024: Conclusion of celebration at 2024 Division II Baseball Championship finals.

MILESTONE MOMENTS

Below are 10 milestone moments in Division II history. For additional historic dates and a list of the division's founding members, click here.

  • 1973

    At a Special Convention in August, the NCAA membership votes to reorganize from its previous university/college division structure into Divisions I, II and III. The first Division II championship is conducted in cross country at Wheaton College (Illinois).

  • 1996

    NCAA Convention delegates approve governance structures that clearly put university presidents in charge of policy making, approve a federated structure in which Divisions II and III retain their one-institution, one-vote approach and guarantee Division II at least 4.37 percent of the Association’s annual general operating revenue. One year later, in 1997, the first Division II Student-Athlete Summit is held in Denver to involve student-athletes more in governance and decision making.

  • 2004

    The first Division II Championships Festival is held in Orlando, Florida, and features national championships in men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, softball, and women’s lacrosse. The concept of a sports festival – an Olympic-style event in which multiple champions are crowned and student-athletes from different sports interact with one another – is unique to Division II.

  • 2005

    A Division II Chancellors and Presidents Summit was hosted in which the divisional leadership agreed Division II needed to articulate its philosophy and to create tools and resources to communicate its messages. In 2006, the strategic positioning platform is launched that lays out the Division II Life in the Balance philosophy with a student-athlete experience that emphasizes high-level athletics, academic success and engagement with the community. In addition, Division II unveiled the “I Chose Division II” tagline for members to define who they were and what they represent.

  • 2008

    Division II approves a membership pilot program to begin accepting international members. The Canadian institution Simon Fraser University enters the membership process shortly thereafter.

  • 2010

    The Division II membership passes Phase One of its landmark “Life in the Balance” legislative package aimed at aligning playing and practice seasons with the Division II strategic positioning platform.

  • 2013

    Division II initiates community engagement at each of its national championships' final sites. The engagement includes activities in the community and then bringing those community members to the final site to experience the championships.

  • 2014

    The division adopted the Path to Graduation legislative package resulting from a comprehensive review of Division II academic requirements, including initial eligibility, progress-toward-degree and two-year college transfer requirements. The legislation focused on the academic readiness of prospective student-athletes; the success of student-athletes once enrolled at a collegiate institution with a focus on graduation and not year-by-year eligibility checks; the opportunity for access to athletically related financial aid, practice and competition; and administrative efficiency.

  • 2015

    Division II launches a brand enhancement initiative that features “Make It Yours” as the division’s tagline. The student-athlete-driven brand enhancement personalizes the balanced athletics and educational experiences that student-athletes have at Division II colleges and universities.

  • 2016

    For the first time, the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee votes on each legislative proposal during the Division II business session at the NCAA Convention.