The column
below was penned by
Bernadette (Bernie) Cafarelli, Assistant Athletics Director at the University of Notre Dame who serves as co-chair of CoSIDA's prestigious Academic All-America Committee.
This column appears in the December 2012 issue of NACDA's
Athletics Administration Magazine and talks about the Capital One Academic All-America® program.
Beginning with the 2009-10 academic year and with its new partnership with NACDA at that time, the CoSIDA leadership was invited to contribute to each issue of the
Athletics Administration Magazine. In October of 2009, CoSIDA President Justin Doherty penned the first "CoSIDA Column."
In October 2012, CoSIDA President Joe Hornstein wrote a CoSIDA Column on the CoSIDA/Cryder Rinebold strategic branding study and Director of External Affairs Barb Kowal wrote the November column which focused on the online CoSIDA Resource Library.
Each
Athletics Administration issue is sent to over 10,000 university and athletics administrators, with CoSIDA's voice, thoughts and expertise shared with these key constituents. The magazine is published each October, November, December, February, March, April, June and August.
See the CoSIDA Corner archives HERE.
CoSIDA's signature program: The Capital One Academic All-America program
by Bernadette (Bernie) Cafarelli, University of Notre Dame
I remember when my former athletics media relations supervisor at Providence College, Gregg Burke (now the deputy director of athletics at the University of Rhode Island) asked me to join CoSIDA’s Academic All-America® Committee back in the spring of 1988. I had just completed my first year working at Providence and he approached me about my interest in being part of the Academic All-America (AAA) Committee.
During the course of the year, I saw the passion and excitement Burke had for the program. Burke, current CoSIDA Executive Director John Humenik (who served as chair at the time as he was on-campus as a sports information director) and Bentley College’s Dick Lipe (current chair emeritus),
worked tirelessly on behalf of countless student-athletes at all levels.
It was easy back then to say “yes” to Burke’s offer to be on the Committee as I shared many of the same ideals and philosophies that he did. I always had an affinity for student-athletes who seemed to accomplish the ultimate juggling act — performing at a high level both in the classroom and in competition. I admired those who took great pride in truly defining the term “student-athlete.”
I had filled out my first Academic All-America® (AAA) nomination form while working at William and Mary. I was a little nervous as I wanted to make sure that my nomination was as complete as possible. I can still recall the day I found out one of my nominated student-athletes was selected to the national team. I felt a great sense of gratification in helping to recognize the achievements of both the student-athlete and our school.
I began as a district coordinator and worked my way up through the AAA Committee ranks. So much has changed during the course of my association with CoSIDA and my nearly 25 years on the Committee, but one thing hasn’t changed — the importance and impact the Academic All-America® program has at our member institutions. One of CoSIDA’s greatest gifts always has been the work of the all-volunteer AAA Committee and what the program does to recognize hundreds of studentathletes each and every year. I cannot say enough about the countless individuals who have volunteered their time during the past 60 years as members of this Committee. For many, it has been a labor of love.
I’m not sure that Academic All-America® program’s founding father, Lester Jordan, would have ever envisioned the impact it has today at universities and colleges all across the country and in Canada.
Since 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed the title of “Academic All-American®” to more than 21,000 outstanding young men and women.
Annually, more than 816 student-athletes who have maintained a 3.30 cumulative GPA or better and are key reserves and starters on their respective teams are honored as Academic All-Americans in their respective sports. The program recognizes achievement in the sports of football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country & track and field, softball, volleyball, as well as men’s and women’s at-large teams that include other NCAA championship sports.
The program has been greatly enhanced during the past two decades by sponsorship at the corporate level. In January 2011, Capital One partnered with CoSIDA to become the new title sponsor of the Academic All-America® program. A longtime supporter of collegiate athletics with the NCAA, Capital One’s commitment has helped increased the program’s visibility on a national basis at all levels. They have created a new website for the program, and I invite you to visit the dynamic website at
http://www.capitaloneacademicallamerica.com.
The NCAA Division II and Division III leadership groups also have made significant financial commitments to further the development of the program at their respective levels, which is a testament to the importance that the Capital One Academic All-America® program is having on campuses across the country.
The 2012-13 school year marks the second year that the Capital One Academic All-America® program is comprised of four divisional teams. Student-athletes are now honored in NCAA Divisions I, II and III, while a fourth team — the College Division — is comprised of NAIA, Canadian and two-year institutions. This expansion, made possible by the commitment of both Capital One and the NCAA, has enabled CoSIDA to double the number of student-athletes honored on an annual basis.
Another wonderful facet of the program has been the annual Academic All-America® Hall of Fame induction ceremony which takes place at CoSIDA’s Convention. Since its creation in 1988, the Hall of Fame has honored more than 120 former Academic All-Americans who are leaders in their respective fields and in their communities. Last year’s Capital One Academic All-America Hall of Fame® induction in St. Louis, Mo., proved to be one of the most moving and emotional ceremonies in recent memory.
In 1997, CoSIDA created another annual award to honor Dick Enberg, the longtime spokesperson for the Academic All-America® program. The Enberg Award also is presented annually at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and past recipients include President Gerald R. Ford, longtime Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt, former Nebraska head football coach Dr. Tom Osborne, University of Miami President Dr. Donna Shalala and Notre Dame President Emeritus Reverend Theodore Hesburgh.
I am extremely blessed to have been a member of CoSIDA's Academic All-America® Committee for nearly 25 years and to work with a group of 160 individuals who are thoroughly invested in making the Capital One Academic All-America® program CoSIDA’s signature endeavor and one of the most recognized scholar-athlete honors in collegiate athletics.
Many thanks to all of you who continue to support the Capital One Academic All-America® nominations and publicity efforts for your well deserving student-athletes. Your tremendous support is the foundation to the past, present and future success of the Capital One Academic All-America® program.