Little East Conference Celebrates NCAA Division III Week

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The Little East Conference and its eight-member institutions will participate in the Division-wide celebration of the inaugural NCAA Division III Week on Saturday, April 14, 2012. The conference office has identified at least one of its Little East members in matchups as the Game of the Week for each respective spring sponsored sport to promote the student-athlete experience.

Division III Week—Monday, April 9 to Sunday, April 15—is an opportunity for all individuals associated with a Division III institution to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on the campus and surrounding community. Throughout the week, every Division III school and conference office is encouraged to conduct a type of outreach activity that falls into one of three categories: academic accomplishment; athletic experience; or leadership/community service/campus involvement.

The Little East office has designated the Rhode Island College at Keene State College and University of Massachusetts Boston at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth doubleheader as its Baseball Games of the Week. The Men's and Women's Lacrosse Game of the Week will feature Plymouth State University at Eastern Connecticut State University. The conference office will complete its celebration with the Rhode Island College at University of Southern Maine and Western Connecticut State University at Keene State College softball doubleheaders.

The event is part of Division III's Identity Initiative, which was introduced in 2010 to sharpen the division's uniqueness and to enable schools and conferences to consistently explain why they prefer to compete in Division III. The initiative has been guided by a strategic-positioning platform, describing Division III as a place where student-athletes can "follow your passions and develop your potential," within an approach that combines rigorous academics, competitive sports and an opportunity to pursue other interests.

The NCAA national office also will be focusing attention on the Special Olympics partnership during the week. Division III will donate $1 to Special Olympics for every new "Like" between April 9 and 15 on the Division's Facebook page, in addition to planned events for staff members to celebrate the week in Indianapolis.

Formed in 1986, the Little East serves as New England's premier athletic conference for public institutions in NCAA Division III.  Featuring 19 championship sports, the Little East sponsors quality competition in every season for our student athletes.  Our eight state colleges and universities dedicate themselves to an ongoing fulfillment of the Division III mission of passion, responsibility, sportsmanship, and citizenship.