Celebrate NCAA Division III Week, April 3-9!
President Valerie Smith shared the following message with the community on April 4, 2017:
To the Swarthmore Campus Community:
Welcome to the sixth annual celebration of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Week! This nationwide celebration highlights the relationship between the largest NCAA Division and its more than 450 member institutions.
The student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) is hosting a number of events, programs, and giveaways including a Sharples “Takeover,” community barbeque, Ice Cream Social, fundraising for Special Olympics, and a free youth clinic. You can find the full list of scheduled events on the Swarthmore Athletics website.
As a charter member of the NCAA and Division III, Swarthmore supports the principle that collegiate athletics is an “integral part of the educational experience.” With one of the oldest athletic programs in the country, Swarthmore has a long history of competitive excellence in athletics. Since 2015 alone, Garnet athletes have participated in 26 Centennial Conference championships, four ECAC championships, and ten national championships --including a second place finish and an NCAA individual national championship! Swarthmore Athletics has also accumulated remarkable individual honors that include Centennial Conference Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the year 11 times (and counting).
As we celebrate Division III week, we also reaffirm our commitment to diversity, gender equity, and inclusive participation. Garnet athletes hail from 34 states and more than a dozen countries; together they embark on a journey of personal growth that allows them to develop valuable skills such as leadership, teamwork, resilience, and discipline.
Unlike our Division II and I counterparts, Division III student-athletes compete without having to manage the obligation or pressure of athletic scholarships. Moreover, Division III athletics encourages community engagement and service learning that complement Swarthmore’s philosophy and Quaker values. Garnet athletes regularly engage the broader community through free clinics, camps, and service projects.
Division III week celebrates the greater Swarthmore community. Our commitment to Division III athletics would not be possible without the support of students, faculty, staff and neighbors. Please join us this week as we thank the community and celebrate our membership in Division III!
Go Garnet!
Val Smith
President
Adam Hertz
Associate Vice President & Marian Ware Director of Athletics
