Division II schools have a history of connecting with their communities through campus events, especially athletics. Division II’s recent emphasis on community engagement has produced a Web site (diicommunity.org) that lets institutions share their community success stories and notify peers about upcoming events that put Division II institutions at the heart of their communities.
Following is a sample of those success stories:

Kids’ Night Out
Northern Kentucky University
The Northern Kentucky Student-Athlete Advisory Committee sponsors Kids’ Night Out twice a year in December and April. For just $10, kids in grades 1 through 5 enjoy a night of swimming, kickball, soccer and movies. Participants receive a T-shirt, snacks and drinks. “The kids love it, and the parents do, too, because it allows them to have an evening free without the kids,” said Athletics Director Jane Meier. Almost 300 kids participated in the session last December. About 140 Northern Kentucky student-athletes helped run the event. “The young kids love bonding with student-athletes and playing a variety of games throughout the evening,” Meier said.

Chili Cook-Off
University of Findlay
The Findlay athletics department and the community’s cancer patient services have collaborated annually for seven years to stage the event in conjunction with a Findlay women’s and men’s basketball afternoon doubleheader. A paid ticket to the basketball game earns a pass to the chili cook-off, and ticket sales are donated, along with money raised through the teams before the event, games and contests at the event, and event raffles. A local radio station promotes the event a month out, and the station’s top DJ is the emcee of the Cook-Off. Teams composed of business representatives, church members, restaurant staff and other groups receive two outlets and a large sterno pan. Most teams also decorate their booth and distribute promotional materials, too. “Obviously, a considerable amount of positive community-service recognition comes to the department during this event,” said Findlay Athletics Director Steven Rackley. The event allows for more than 30 recipes and provides bidding opportunities for each item in the sports auction. In 2006, the event generated almost $22,000 for cancer patient services. “It typically receives a positive reaction because we have a good fan base for our basketball games, and this just helped create an additional positive atmosphere,” Rackley said. “We always have individuals asking when the next Chili Cook Off will be.”