CLEVELAND - Just a year after being named the runner-up for a national award for the Men's Lacrosse Volleyball-A-Thon, Dickinson athletics has once again been recognized by the National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators (NADIIIAA) for their service to the local community. This time however, the department finished at the top Dickinson was named the NADIIIAA Special Olympics Activity Category winner at the NCAA Convention on Thursday afternoon.
Back on October 2nd, Dickinson athletics in partnership with Special Olympics Pennsylvania welcomed more than 500 student-athletes representing Carlisle, Big Spring, South Middleton, Mechanicsburg, Northen York and Shippensburg school districts to Biddle Field for a day of competition and fellowship. From the moment they stepped off the buses, each Special Olympian were greeted with a tunnel of Dickinson student-athletes cheering them on and welcoming them to an exciting day of competition. That partnership would continue throughout the day as Dickinson athletes became teammates and the biggest fans of the competitors, walking hand-in-hand with runners to the starting line and celebrating every jump and throw with roaring cheers. This spirit of genuine connection was palpable and felt by all that were in the complex on that day. On the whole, the day was less about perfect technique, speed and perfect relay hand-offs and more about meeting new people and the camaraderie built up between the Special Olympians and the Red Devil community.
Big Spring school district representative Jennifer Tomasov added her insight to the event saying "our local Special Olympics Track and Field event at Dickinson College is something I look forward to every year. Our Special Olympics athletes have the opportunity to participate in track and field events that they would otherwise not have the opportunity to do. We bring together students from several different local school districts to participate in a day full of fun and smiles. This event would not be possible without the many volunteers who give their time to support our athletes. Dickinson College athletes and staff help us with event set up, clean up, and recording student times and distances for the events. More importantly, they encourage and cheer on our athletes as they compete. We appreciate the ongoing support from the Dickinson College athletes and staff who help to make this day possible and we look forward to continuing this event in future years."
"These awards celebrate the incredible impact Division III programs and administrators have on their campuses and communities," said Laura Mooney, NADIIIAA President and Assistant Dean of Athletics & Recreation at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA). "NADIIIAA is proud to honor these institutions and individuals for their commitment to service and leadership."
