The National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) announced the recipients of the 2021-22 NADIIIAA Community Service Awards in a ceremony at the NCAA Convention in San Antonio on Friday and Lake Forest College was the winner in one category and runner-up in another.
In addition to being presented with a commemorative award, the College will receive a $1,000 contribution to the general scholarship fund from NADIIIAA.
The NADIIIAA Community Service Awards program is intended to recognize the many contributions Division III student-athletes regularly make to their campuses and local communities. Recognition was given for projects in three categories and Lake Forest was the winner in Special Olympics Activity and runner-up in One-Time Activity/Project.
Accepting the award at Friday's ceremony was Lake Forest College Director of Athletics Nicki Pieart. "We are thrilled to be recognized by NADIIIAA for our community service efforts," she began. "This award is a testament to our students-athletes, coaches, and staff who prioritize giving back to the community, as it is such a valuable aspect of the student-athlete experience."
The Lake Forest College Department of Athletics hosted the 2022 Special Olympics Region B Aquatic Meet in March. Special Olympic swimmers from the area competed in their respective divisions and 55 of them qualified for the Illinois State Summer Games that were held in Normal, Illinois, in June. Forester student-athletes assisted with every aspect of the meet, including timing, escorting swimmers to and from events, lifeguarding, medal ceremonies, and announcing. Forester student-athletes and staff represent 100% of the Region B meet's volunteers. More Info
Lake Forest's runner-up mention came from hosting "The Sleds are Coming," sled hockey event at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. As it has annually since 2011, the College donated the facility usage and provided giveaway items at the event. The on-ice competition featured members of the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA) Falcons. Women's and men's hockey team members helped push sleds, SAAC members created signs for GLASA athletes with names and numbers, and athletic teams spilt up to cheer on the respective GLASA scrimmage teams.
About NADIIIAA: NADIIIAA members represent more than 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 58th year. For more information on NACDA, its 18 professional associations, and three foundations it manages, please visit www.nacda.com.