RWU Athletics Honored as a Top D-III School for Community Service

BRISTOL, R.I. –The National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators honored the Roger Williams University Athletic Department in January by awarding the NADIIIAA/JOSTENS Community Service Award of Merit in the category titled An Array of Projects.

“This is a tremendous honor for our student-athletes and staff who have put so much time and effort into our community service efforts,” said Dave Kemmy, director of athletics, intramurals and recreation. “To be recognized on a national level is truly a reward that everyone can share. This just recognizes what we have known for a long time: we have dedicated and outstanding student-athletes and staff.”

During the 2014-15 academic year, RWU Athletics compiled the second highest number of community service hours completed in the history of the department. During the past year, student-athletes at Roger Williams recorded 5,826 total hours of service, the highest total since 2005. Every team was involved in at least two efforts and some as many as six. RWU student-athletes were involved in a number of one-time and ongoing projects, including the annual Turkey Basket Drive and the Special Olympics Bocce Tournament.

The awards program, established in 2001, is co-sponsored by the NADIIIAA and Jostens and is intended to recognize the many contributions Division III student-athletes regularly make to their campuses and local communities. Recognition is given for projects in three categories: One-Time Projects, An Array of Projects and Ongoing Projects.  The winners this year in each of the three award categories were, respectively: Stevens Institute of Technology, Denison University and Kalamazoo College.

The NADIIIAA is an association comprised of athletics administrators from the nearly 450 institutions and 43 conferences competing at the NCAA Division III level. A primary purpose of the NADIIIAA is to encourage the continued development of athletics programs focused on the student-athlete and based on sound educational philosophy. The honorees were selected by a committee of athletic administrators chaired by Danielle Drews, director of athletics at The Sage Colleges.