At Minnesota Duluth, it's common to see green bandanas on backpacks across campus. At a school whose colors are maroon and gold, the bandanas are meant to stand out.
As part of the Green Bandana Project that Minnesota Duluth's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee launched in 2019, the bandanas signify that those who display them are mental health advocates. The project has continued to grow through partnerships Minnesota Duluth's SAAC has made with campus counseling services, community mental health professionals and other student groups with similar missions. These partnerships culminated with the launch of Mental Health Awareness Games in 2020-21 that included teams wearing mental health T-shirts and videos with awareness-driven messaging being shared at the games, on social media and through broadcast streams.
These games continued for every spring sport in 2021 and led Minnesota Duluth to plan an awareness game for every Bulldog team for the 2021-22 academic year. That helped earn Minnesota Duluth the 2022 Division II Award of Excellence, announced during the division's business session Saturday at the NCAA Convention in Indianapolis. Each year, the national Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee selects the award winner based on events over the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership.
"I am extremely proud of our student-athletes for the positive impact they have made on our campus and beyond through their mental health awareness advocacy efforts. This award reflects their tremendous work," said Lynn Black, chancellor at Minnesota Duluth. "Their passion, collaboration and persistence to make a difference is truly inspiring. It's vital on a campus and in society that those who are struggling with mental health feel supported, and our student-athletes have helped our Bulldog community make immense strides in this space."
As the winner of the award, the school will receive $2,500 to use toward future community engagement efforts.
Wingate and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association shared runner-up honors for the Award of Excellence out of 28 finalists named. Both Wingate and the CIAA will receive $1,250 for their efforts.
In 2021, Wingate hosted its 28th annual United Way Day of Caring. This event connected 311 volunteers, including 273 student-athletes and coaches, with the local community through assisting with household maintenance for people in need.
The CIAA, in response to the cancellation of its men's and women's basketball championships, held Virtual Vibe: Tournament Edition. The event connected student-athletes, fans and the Baltimore community through education sessions, concerts, community engagement opportunities and a career expo. This weeklong event included ample resources and support for individuals who normally attend the tournament.
