Material below courtesy of
NCAA.org and
Wheaton College athletics
The renewal of a recognition program for top work done by NCAA Division III athletic communications staff has been launched, and congratuations are in order for three D3 athletic media relations staffs. The recognition program is jointly sponsored by the NCAA and the Division III Sports Information Directors of America (D3SIDA). The recognition program, part of Division III’s identity initiative, seeks to honor the best work – including news releases, feature articles, videos, blogs and other materials – produced by campus and conference athletics communications staffs.
The work recognized is noteworthy for portraying Division III attributes of Proportion, Comprehensive Learning, Passion and Responsibility.
The athletics communicators at the
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) were named the top honorees for the January-March 2014 period. These awards were announced on the NCAA.org Division III monthly update for July. The MIAC was selected for a
feature story from its Friday Feature series, about standout Carleton College pentathlete Amelia Campbell. The feature, entitled "Carleton's Campubell's well-rounded approach to track success," was written by
Megan Gaard, MIAC Assistant Director.
It featured interviews with Campbell and her coach, Donna Ricks, about the various ways the Carleton sophomore has sought excellence in athletics and also in the classroom and through participation in activities as a performing in a saxophone quartet.
Two other athletic communication staffs -
Wheaton College (Masschusetts) and
Franklin & Marshall - were recognized as part of the quarterly awards as they received honorable mention in the most recent round of judging.
Wheaton College Sports Information Director
Shawn Medeiros and former intern
Matt Noonan ’10 were singled out for their
video produced on the Wheaton College Internship Showcase – which represented student-athletes across several sports discussing their participation in a variety of internships including athletics, financial services, government, health care and social work.
Franklin & Marshall received honorable mention for a series of profiles about top scholar-athletes
James Rucinski,
Dylan Cunningham and
Dana Sleeper,.The Diplomats' athletic communications staff is comprised of
Mickey Blymier, Director of Athletic Communications;
Brad Weltmer, Assistant Director; and
Mike Freeman, athletic communications assistant.
The Franklin & Marshall scholar-athlete profile features one Diplomat per month who personifies what it means to be an NCAA Division III student-athlete. Each featured F&M student-athlete of the month must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and community service, or have a noteworthy story that stretches beyond the realm of athletic competition.
“Athletics communicators play a crucial role in promoting the Division III model of intercollegiate athletics, which encourages student-athletes to ‘follow their passions and develop their potential’,” said Dan Dutcher, NCAA Division III vice president. “This outstanding work is a laudable example of the ways in which our member institutions portray the Division III philosophy as it is practiced on our campuses.”
Judging in the quarterly program is beginning now for work produced April-June 2014. Nominations of materials portraying the Division III philosophy and student-athlete experience are encouraged, and can be submitted via
d3identity@ncaa.org. The top honoree in each quarter’s judging receives an additional $500 credit at the Division III purchasing website.
NCAA Division III/D3SIDA Quarterly Athletic Communications Awards (January-March 2014)
Top Honoree: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Friday Feature series: Carleton's Campbell's well-rounded approach to track success
Honorable Mention: Franklin & Marshall Scholar-Athlete of the Month series:
James Rucinski,
Dylan Cunningham and
Dana Sleeper profiles
Honorable Mention: Wheaton College Internship Showcase Video Award Winner