CLEVELAND – The National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) has announced the recipients of the NADIIIAA Community Service Award and Athletics Administrator Awards.
Each of the selected recipients are being recognized for their impact at the institutional level, and in their communities for the 2022-23 academic year. The recipients will be recognized at the NADIIIAA reception taking place in conjunction with the NCAA Convention on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, in Phoenix at 4:30 pm MT.
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| NADIIIAA Community Service Award |
| The NADIIIAA Community Service Awards program, established in 2001, is intended to recognize the many contributions Division III student-athletes regularly make to their campuses and local communities. Recognition is given for projects in three categories: One-Time Activity/Project, Special Olympics Activity, and Community Partnerships. In addition to presenting commemorative awards to the three winning institutions, NADIIIAA will make up to a $1,000 contribution to the general scholarship fund at each of these institutions. |
| One-Time Project Category Winner: Howard Payne University |
Howard Payne University held its annual Community Service Day serving multiple non-profits tha t serve Brown County. Projects included painting, assisting with landscaping, picking up trash, and cleaning facilities. The annual event is open to any non-profit organization in the greater Brown County area. The Community Impact Day served at 21 community sites across the Brown County area during the second annual William B. Dean, M.D. Lecture Series and Community Impact Day on Wednesday, March 29. This annual event focuses on the importance of community service. Read More
One-Time Project Category Runner-Up: Keuka College | Read More
One-Time Project Category Third Place: University of Wisconsin-Stout | Read More
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| Special Olympics Activity Category Winner: Juniata College |
Juniata College hosted the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania (SOPA) Central Fall Sectional this year on October 1, 2023. This event requires full support from athletics, the community, and school administration in order to create the best possible experience for the 811 total delegation members (529 SOPA athletes) in attendance. The Central Fall Sectional allows these athletes to advance to the state competitions in bocce, volleyball skills, volleyball teams, soccer skills, soccer teams, flag football, long distance run/walk, and powerlifting. Juniata athletes plan the day months in advance, run each event, keep score, officiate games, post media, cheer, organize food, run Olympic Village, provide awards, and so much more. Planning starts in January, continuing through the fall semester, with a committee of eight students and one advisor. There is necessary communication between the committee and SOPA throughout the planning. Over 400 student-athletes volunteered in shifts between 6:45 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Read More
Special Olympics Activity Category Runner-Up: Alfred State College | Read More
Special Olympics Activity Category Third Place: CCIW | Read More
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| Community Partnerships Category Winner: Stevens Institute of Technology |
Stevens Institute of Technology recorded over 275 hours of combined projects and activities betwee n a total of 675 student-athletes on campus. The activities ranged from serving the local Hoboken community through 30 different projects across the city to StevensTHON, which is a student-run, year-long philanthropic movement that provides support because Kids Can't Wait at Children's Specialized Hospital, the local Children's Miracle Network Hospital. Read More
Community Partnerships Category Runner-Up: Arcadia University | Read More
Community Partnerships Category Third Place: SUNY-Oswego | Read More
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| NADIIIAA Athletics Administrator Award |
| The following award recipients will receive a $1,000 professional development grant. |
| Emerging Athletics Administrator: Katie Gonzalez, Illinois Wesleyan University |
Katie Gonzales was selected as the 2023 NADIIIAA Emerging Athletics Administrator award because  she is the epitome of what a Division III administrator should be. Gonzales joined the Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) staff and immediately took the athletics communications department to the next level. She makes each sport and student-athlete at IWU feel valued and connects with people in the department on a daily basis. Throughout her time at IWU, she has stepped into more leadership roles, including many duties within the DEI space. Although Gonzales does quality work in all areas, her mentorship to her graduate assistants and student workers is what stands out the most. She has been instrumental in growing and leading her staff, which is now one of the few all-female athletics communications departments in the country.
She has a passion for professional development and carves money out of her budget to fund opportunities for her staff of 18, which includes an assistant, GAs, and student workers. She continues to make an impact outside Illinois Wesleyan's athletics department, especially with College Sports Communicators (CSC). She currently serves as the vice chair of the Academic All-America Committee, is a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, and is the D3SIDA Academic All-America liaison.
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| Transitioning Athletics Administrator: Sara Lee, Denison University |
Sara Lee has been integral in the overall success of Denison athletics throughout her tenure as head  women's basketball coach, professor of health, exercise & sport studies, and very part time help in the department, administratively. Lee is the quintessential athletics administrator in Division III. Currently, her two most-significant roles as an athletics administrator are as deputy director of Title IX in athletics and the role she plays on campus in Denison's work in inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-racism.
Lee sits on the university's 'Denison Forward' team, which is a university-wide commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. She has led the work that Denison has committed to in the departments of athletics, recreation, health, exercise and sport studies. An additional initiative that Lee has co-led has been the Strong Women's Initiative for female athletes, assistant and head coaches. This work has engaged former female athletes who are currently entrepreneurs, senior leaders on campus, and current female trustees to educate current female student-athletes on becoming strong women leaders in a global society. The culture of female student-athletes is rapidly changing and there is cross-pollination occurring between sports and throughout campus. Lee is a leader of campus culture for the betterment of underserved populations.
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| About NADIIIAA: NADIIIAA athletics administrators from over 350 institutions and conferences competing at the NCAA Division III level. The Association encourages the continued development of athletics programs focused on the student-athlete and based on sound educational principles and the Division III philosophy. NADIIIAA is administered by NACDA, which is in its 59th year. For more information on NACDA, the 18 professional associations and/or three foundations it manages, please visit www.nacda.com. |
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