INDIANAPOLIS – Ursuline College was one of 24 schools around the country named a finalist for the 2017 Division II Award of Excellence, an accolade recognizing positive campus and community engagement events hosted during the past year.
 
Ursuline represented the Great Midwest Athletic Conference through the A.R.R.O.W.S. (Academic Readiness Requires Outstanding Work and Support) program.
 
It was designed as a leadership development and mentoring program that provides Ursuline student-athletes the opportunity to mentor local high school students and to encourage them to pursue secondary education.
 
Several 2015-16 Ursuline A.R.R.O.W.S. mentors included Eadaoin Cronin (women’s golf), Camryn Hill (women’s basketball), Janelle Perry (volleyball/track and field), Makayla Windau (volleyball) and Adaobi Mgdobille (track and field).
 
In addition, Walsh University, an institution joining the G-MAC for the 2017-18 academic year, was recognized as a finalist for their efforts on Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a way to give back to the community.
 
Each year, Division II selects one finalist from each conference and one independent representative to be recognized for events that exemplify any of the six Division II attributes: learning, balance, resourcefulness, sportsmanship, passion and service. Each finalist will receive $500.
 
This year’s finalists hosted events that honored members of the military, benefited local youth, assisted people with disabilities, raised money for positive causes and more.
 
Two runner-up recipients and one overall winner will be announced during the Division II Business Session at the 2017 NCAA Convention on Jan. 21 in Nashville, Tennessee. The winner will receive $1,500 and a nationally televised football or basketball game during the 2017-18 season. The first runner-up will receive $1,250, and the second runner-up will receive $1,000. All prize money is expected to be used on future community engagement initiatives.