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DII recognizes 10 schools for positive game environments

By David Pickle
NCAA.org

Ten Division II member schools have been recognized as Game Environment Award of Excellence winners for 2010-11.

Each winner will be provided with a $500 award. In addition, a national winner will be recognized at the 2012 NCAA Convention in Indianapolis.

The Game Environment Award of Excellence recognizes athletics programs that have displayed a special commitment to creating competition environments that stress civility, cater to the comfort of fans and participants, and are exciting.

The 2010-11 winners are:

• Chowan, for a “Pink Zone” women’s basketball game against Lincoln (Pa.) to highlight breast-cancer awareness.
• Concordia-St. Paul, for coordinating the school’s efforts with Make-A-Wish with the homecoming football game.
• Drury, for its “Fanthers” program that provided means for positive student support at Panther athletics events.
• Grand Canyon, for building fan excitement before its nationally televised game against Brigham Young-Hawaii.
• Holy Family, for its volleyball-based “Dig for a Cure” night to promote breast-cancer awareness.
• New Haven, for its Harmony Classic. The school used the game against the Lincoln (Pa.), a historically black institution, as the centerpiece of a weekend celebrating racial diversity and harmony.
• Mount Olive, for its annual “Church Night.” Fans from local churches gained admission to the basketball doubleheader against Lees-McRae for $1 and then participated in various game-related events, some of which raised money for Make-A-Wish.
• Saint Leo, for its ROARwards Club program that offers community incentives for attending Saint Leo athletics events.
• South Carolina Aiken, for its part in developing a “mascot summit” to keep perspective about the basketball rivalry with nearby Augusta State.
• Texas A&M-Kingsville, for events surrounding its annual fan and community appreciate day.