The Institute for International Sport has announced its Sports Ethics Fellows for 2005, and all 12 honorees are members of Division III.

The 2005 group is being hailed as "A Celebration of Division III," and it includes 12 individuals who "consistently demonstrate an interest in promoting the ideals of ethics and fair play in sport and society."

The 2005 Sports Ethics Fellows are:

• Bill Beaney, head men's ice hockey coach and men's and women's golf coach at Middlebury College;

• Rico Cabral, associate athletics director and head men's basketball coach at Mount Ida College;

• Tim Gleason, commissioner of the Ohio Athletic Conference;

• Todd S. Hutton, president of Utica College and president of the Empire 8 Athletic Conference;

• Roger Ingles, interim director of athletics and head baseball coach at Ohio Wesleyan University;

• Gary Karner, commissioner of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference;

• Donna Ledwin, commissioner of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference;

• Leon Lunder, athletics director at Carleton College;

• Glada C. Munt, associate dean of students and director of athletics at Southwestern University (Texas);

• Jim Nelson, athletics director at Suffolk University;

• Sandra Slabik, sports management professor at Neumann College and chair of the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference faculty athletics representatives; and

• Marge Willadsen, head softball coach, associate athletics director and senior woman administrator at Buena Vista University.

"Having spoken at more than 50 Division III institutions across the country, I am deeply impressed with the clear commitment to sportsmanship at the Division III level," said Dan Doyle, the institute's executive director. "Our 2005 Sports Ethics Fellows reflect this admirable commitment."

The 12 Sports Ethics Fellows were selected from nominations submitted by their colleagues for their work as sports educators. They join past Sports Ethics Fellows such as world-renowned cyclist Lance Armstrong, soccer star Mia Hamm, basketball all-star David Robinson and Olympic gold medalist Bonnie Blair.

Chuck Mitrano, commissioner of the Empire 8 and chair of this year's Sports Ethics Fellows Selection Committee, said Division III offered an abundance of active and ethical leaders from which to choose.

"These honorees exemplify the best characteristics of sporting and ethical behavior and have been strong advocates in an effort to improve the sporting culture," said Mitrano, who was among the 2004 fellows class.

Sports Ethics Fellows are selected in conjunction with the National Sportsmanship Day program celebrated annually on the first Tuesday of March. They are asked to help promote the ideals of National Sportsmanship Day by writing editorials for newspapers, magazines and the Internet, by doing public service announcements on sportsmanship, by making appearances at schools or community groups and by assisting the institute in formulating future programs.

As part of the 15th annual event, to be held March 1 this year, more than 13,000 elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as colleges and universities from all 50 U.S. states and more than 100 countries, will celebrate the importance of ethics, honesty, peaceful conflict resolution and fair play in athletics and society. More than five million students, coaches, administrators and parents are expected to engage in activities related to sportsmanship on that day.

Doyle founded the Institute for International Sport in 1986. Located on the campus of the University of Rhode Island, the institute administers more than 10 international programs that reach more than 160 countries on six continents. Currently, National Sportsmanship Day, the Center for Sports Parenting, the World Leadership Summit and the Scholar-Athlete Games are the main projects the institute has developed to help spread the message of using athletics and art as tools to promote goodwill among future world leaders.

Following are brief summaries of the accomplishments of this year's Sports Ethics Fellows:

• Bill Beaney, head men's ice hockey coach and men's and women's golf coach, Middlebury College. Beaney has amassed an overall record of 332-99-19 (.759) in 17 years at Middlebury, including four NESCAC championships and one ECAC championship, as well as 10 straight NCAA postseason appearances and six national championships. Beaney has been named the New England coach of the year three times, has twice won the Edward Jeremiah Award as the National Coach of the Year, and was once honored as the USOC National Hockey Coach of the Year. Additionally, Beaney has served as Middlebury's head golf coach for 10 years, guiding his teams to two NESCAC titles.

Comment from selection committee Chair Chuck Mitrano: "For a collegiate coach to have such a stellar record and to have won national titles in the exemplary manner that Bill's teams have is a tremendous accomplishment. His teams are highly competitive and win the right way, which is a reflection of Bill's outstanding character and leadership."

• Rico Cabral, associate athletics director and head men's basketball coach, Mount Ida College. Cabral is in his 13th season as the Mustangs' men's basketball coach. In that time, he has compiled a record of 225-109 (.674) and a career head coaching record of 406-218 (.651). Cabral earned North Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1999-2000 and again in 2000-01, when he led the Mustangs to their first NAC title.

Comment from the selection committee chair: "Rico represents the best values and ideals of collegiate coaches. He also serves as an outstanding example to his players and the Mount Ida community in general. We are proud to have him serve as a Sports Ethic sFellow."

• Tim Gleason, commissioner, Ohio Athletic Conference. Gleason spearheaded the OAC's Operation GoodSport, which aims to identify the importance of good sportsmanship and respect for young boys and girls. The program encompasses student-athlete contingents from each of the 10 member institutions visiting local high schools, middle schools and elementary schools preaching the gospel of good sportsmanship. Gleason was also instrumental in developing the OAC's sportsmanship policies and has committed his conference to participation in the Division III Conduct Foul Program. Gleason also serves on Division III's Conduct Foul Committee, is chair of the Division III Commissioners Association and was recently appointed to the NCAA Division III Management Council.

Comment from the selection committee chair: "Tim's leadership and energy were critical to the success of Operation GoodSport. His creativity and ability to lead have made a positive impact on his conference members and many of Ohio's youth."

• Todd S. Hutton, president, Utica College and Empire 8 Athletic Conference. As president of Utica, Hutton has maintained a distinct balance between athletics and academics for student-athletes and instilled a sense of fairness among the entire college community. Hutton's leadership and guidance also have driven the development of innovative programs such as Utica's faculty mentor/friend and cultural event initiatives (see related story, page 3). In addition, Hutton was instrumental in the development of a Utica College athletics recruiting host code of ethics, which outlines appropriate behavior of student hosts when prospective student-athletes visit campus. As president of the Empire 8, Hutton has played a key role in the development of various sportsmanship policies and educational efforts. Some of these highlights include the implementation of an Empire 8 ejection policy, game administration policies, creation of a sportsmanship slogan and logo (Empire 8: Competing with Honor and Integrity), and the conference's latest sportsmanship recognition effort, including a Sportsperson of the Week program.

Comment from the selection committee chair: "Dr. Hutton has clearly displayed a commitment to improving sportsmanship and high ethical standards in his campus community and the Empire 8. The way he has integrated athletics into the Utica College community is admirable and something to which all institutions of higher education should aspire. His influence and leadership have enriched and enlightened the experiences of many student-athletes, administrators and faculty members at Utica College and in the Empire 8."

• Roger Ingles, interim athletics director and head baseball coach, Ohio Wesleyan University. As Ohio Wesleyan's head baseball coach for 21 years, assistant athletics director for 10 years and current interim director of athletics, Ingles is known for making fair and equitable decisions within the North Coast Athletic Conference. He has posted a 574-244-7 record (.700) in baseball, and during his tenure 15 of his teams have appeared in the NCAA Division III championship. His teams also have captured eight NCAC titles in the past 18 years.

Comment from the selection committee chair: "Roger has personified the fine attributes of a Sports Ethics Fellow throughout his career as a coach and administrator. At times coaches may sacrifice their integrity to gain a competitive advantage but Roger has risen to the top of his craft with honor."

• Gary Karner, commissioner, Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Karner has been the driving force in developing a comprehensive program to promote positive sportsmanship in the WIAC. Under his direction, the WIAC secured an NCAA grant to conduct a series of "conversations in character" designed to identify problems/issues in the areas of sportsmanship and ethical conduct, and to develop strategies for promoting positive sports behaviors among student-athletes, coaches and fans. Karner spearheaded WIAC's Ambassador Program, which entails individuals wearing easily identifiable Ambassador attire to athletics events and remaining visible throughout the contest to help curb unsporting behavior by fans. Karner also drafted a detailed WIAC Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Handbook that sets high conduct expectations for member institutions and fans.

Comment from the selection committee chair: "Not only has Gary been innovative in his approach to educating his membership on sporting behavior, but his impact has reached a broad spectrum of constituents, from the athletes to fans. He is most deserving of this honor."

• Donna Ledwin, commissioner, Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. Ledwin has established sportsmanship initiatives within the AMCC that focus on the improvement of coach and student-athlete behavior. The strategies include an "active" code of conduct statement sent by the CEO and signed by every member of the coaching staff each year; implementation of a standardized "one game/next game" ejection policy for all conference sports, and a conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee roundtable on sportsmanship and ethical conduct. AMCC members currently are working on a conference-wide effort aimed at raising spectator behavior to a more positive level. Ledwin also serves on Division III's Conduct Foul Committee and she is a former member of the Division III Management Council.

Comment from the selection committee chair: "Donna is a tireless advocate of positive sporting behavior. She is a noble leader guided by strong sports ethics and the utmost concern to make her student-athletes and coaches better people while competing at a high level."

• Leon Lunder, athletics director, Carleton College. Lunder has carved out a reputation as a consistent, unwavering champion of ethics in sport within the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and NCAA Division III. He has established himself as one of the most fervent defenders of the Division III philosophy, and he always preaches ethical practices in sport. A strong leader, he often voices his stance openly even if it is not the popular view. His leadership has been invaluable to the progress and success of the MIAC on many levels. Lunder recently completed a term on the Division III Management Council.

Comment from the selection committee chair: "Leon is the type of athletics director many aspire to be. Always fair, equitable and ethical, he is a great selection as Sports Ethics Fellow."

• Glada C. Munt, associate dean of students and director of athletics, Southwestern University (Texas). Munt has served the Southwestern University community and athletics program for the past 28 years as the volleyball head coach (20 years), assistant athletics director (eight years) and director of athletics (since 1995). At the national level, some of her accomplishments include: Division III Volleyball South region chair, NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Regional Selection Committee chair, NAGWS Volleyball Rules Committee and USVBA Board of Directors. As the only female director of athletics in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC), Munt has been instrumental in many policy changes in the conference stressing equity across sports and gender. She also advocates for more involvement of senior woman administrators within the conference structure and membership.

Comment from the selection committee chair: "A champion of many noble causes, Dr. Munt is most deserving of this award. Her efforts to provide equitable experiences for athletics teams and professionals are inspiring."

• Jim Nelson, athletics director, Suffolk University. Suffolk University's longtime director of athletics and former basketball coach has played a major role in the development and improvement of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference's Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Code. In addition to formal policy, Nelson practices what he preaches. He was quick to educate and severely discipline a student-athlete from one of his programs who precipitated a physical altercation. And in the ultimate display of sportsmanship and kindness last spring when the opposing team's bus broke down on its way to Suffolk, Nelson hopped in a van, drove to the breakdown and transported the opposing team to the match site.

Comment from the selection committee chair: "Jim Nelson embodies the spirit of collegiality we all hope to achieve. Few people would go the extra mile, whether it be mentoring a student-athlete or assisting an opponent."

• Sandra Slabik, sports management professor and faculty athletics representative, Neumann College. Slabik is vice-chair of the Division III Management Council and chair of the faculty athletics representatives in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference. In her academic work at Neumann, Slabik has been the driving force in starting a successful sports management program. She surveyed a sampling of Division III student-athletes to learn about their perceptions of sporting behavior and ethical conduct in Division III athletics. She then surveyed those same student-athletes on their own actual behavior while competing in an effort to compare to the respondents' perceptions.

Comment from the selection committee chair: "Dr. Slabik has made terrific contributions to Division III through her research and exemplary service in the various positions she has held. She demonstrates a sincere interest in examining the issues facing our young men and women. She will be a tremendous Sports Ethics Fellow."

• Marge Willadsen, head softball coach, senior woman administrator and associate athletics director, Buena Vista University. In her 25 years of coaching softball, Willadsen has never been ejected from a game. She is currently serving on the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct and was recently elected to serve on the Ethics Committee of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Willadsen has also presented at NCAA regional student-athlete leadership conferences on the topic of sportsmanship. As the NCAA compliance coordinator for her school, she adheres to her own strict ethical code. Because she felt it was an important topic for her students to discuss and debate, she taught "Ethics in Coaching" for her school's senior seminar in Exercise Science this past semester.

Comment from the selection committee chair: "As a tireless advocate for sportsmanship and ethical conduct Marge is an ideal Sports Ethics Fellow. She not only preaches positive behavior, but she lives it and holds others to her own high standards. She is a tremendous leader and represents all that is good and noble in our division."