Next Week Marks 2018 D3 Week

Next week is the nationwide NCAA Division III Week, celebrating all individuals connected to Division III and the impact that athletics and student-athletes have on the campus and their communities. Throughout the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and all across the country NCAA Division III institutions will be holding various events all week long. 

Below is a list of events that will be held on campuses across the SLIAC. To follow along with all of the events happening in the SLIAC and across the country use #D3Week and #whyD3

Blackburn College will be focusing on community involvement efforts with collections and student-athlete interactions. They will hold a penny wars competition in which money will be collected for use at future SAAC events with the winning side receiving a pizza party. In addition, they will be holding a food drive with collections going to the Carlinville Food Pantry. Blackburn student-athletes will also go to local elementary schools to talk with students and tell them more about what it is like to be a Division III student-athlete. Blackburn will also host a meet-and-greet between the student-athletes and faculty, with a chance to get to know each other outside of the classroom. 

Iowa Wesleyan University will begin their week with an 'Academic Showcase', highlighting one student-athlete from each team on the video boards located inside the school's gymnasium. On April 3 the Iowa Wesleyan SAAC group will hold a dodgeball tournament, which is open to everyone on campus, from 7-10 p.m. They will conclude their week by hosting the Southeast Iowa Special Olympics Spring Games. This will mark the 4th consecutive year that Iowa Wesleyan has played host to the event.

MacMurray College will be releasing a series of interviews with student-athletes talking about they chose Division III and what it means to them. In addition, the MacMurray SAAC group will be collecting donations at Highlander baseball and softball games for Hope Lodge in St. Louis, Mo. MacMurray will also have a campus-wide 'Appreciation Cookout' during lunch on April 6th. 

Principia College will be holding a banquet on Wednesday night to celebrate various athletic achievements over the past year as well as recognizing out-going Faculty Athletic Representative Brian Roberts and welcome incoming FAR Jonathan Langton. Principia's student improv comedy group, "The Lazy Zipper" will also perform that night for entertainment. During intercollegiate competition on campus that week there will also be cupcakes and cinnamon rolls provided to promote and encourage fans to attend. A video will also be shown on campus, via digital signs, with interviews from student-athletes about what it means to be a D3 athlete. 

Division III Week was begun in 2010 as a way to define the division's identity and enable schools, conferences, and student-athletes to consistently explain why they prefer to compete in Division III. Events throughout the week will highlight one of three experiences celebrated by Division III: academic, athletic, and community service.