GLENSIDE, Pa.  – The Arcadia University Department of Athletics was recognized for its varied community service efforts by the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) and Jostens for the fourth consecutive academic year. Arcadia was the only institution to receive the Award of Merit in the Array of Projects category for the 2015-16 academic year.

NADIIIAA Release l 2015-16 Community Service Projects l Community Service Home
 
This marks the second straight year in which Arcadia received the Award of Merit in the Array of Projects category. The department was first recognized for its efforts with Honorable Mention recognition in the Array of Projects Category for the 2012-13 academic year, a feat that was repeated for 2013-14.
 
The NADIIIAA/Jostens Community Service Award is presented in three categories – Array of Projects, One-Time Project and Ongoing Projects. Each category awards one overall winner, an Award of Merit recipient and Honorable Mention recognition.
 
"We are extremely proud to be recognized by NADIIIAA for our department-wide community service efforts for the fourth year in a row," said Director of Athletics Brian Granata. "All of our coaches, support staff, and student-athletes should be commended for their commitment to service and for being engaged with the local community. They represent our division and the University in a very positive manner, and uphold the ideals of the NCAA Division III experience."
 
Arcadia's student-athletes, coaches, and staff participated in more than 30 community service events that totaled just approximately 3,000 hours of service during the 2015-16 academic year, including food drives, toy drives, community beautification projects, and free youth clinics. They also raised funds for a variety of causes and organizations.
 
Projects from this past year included the baseball team raising over $5,250 for the Vs. Cancer Foundation, the softball team adding eight-year-old Jordyn Visalli to the roster through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, 65 Arcadia student-athletes raising a combined $3,510 during a Rely for Life event held in Alumni Gymnasium, and the Knights Fighting Need food drive that collected over 900 pounds of food that was donated to Philabundance.
 
Arcadia is one of two Middle Atlantic Conference member institutions to be recognized by the NADIIIAA for 2015-16; Manhattanville College was the overall winner in the One-Time Project category. In total, the association honored 15 institutions for their work in the community this past academic year.
 
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 are selected by a committee of athletic administrators.