In an inclusive and spirited celebration of the sixth-annual NCAA Div. III Week, The College of Wooster's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will team up with fellow North Coast Athletic Conference SAAC groups as part of a friendly conference-versus-conference fundraising competition against SAAC groups from the Presidents' Athletic Conference in support of a pair of coaches in each league that are battling respective forms of cancer.
As part of the competition, SAAC groups from NCAC and PAC member institutions will take part in a week-long "Change War" from Monday, April 3 through Sunday, April 9. At the conclusion of the competition, a conference will be named "Change War" winner, while each conference will celebrate its respective member school that raised the most funds. In addition, all of the combined NCAC funds going directly to the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute in Meadville, Pa. in support of former Allegheny College head volleyball coach Bridget Sheehan's fight against fallopian cancer. In support of Geneva College head women's basketball coach Lori Wynn and her battle with ovarian cancer, the PAC's raised funds will be donated to the Beaver County (Pa.) Cancer & Heart Association.
Additional organized activities are scheduled throughout the week, including the "Take a Coach to Class/Take a Professor to Practice" initiative, which takes place all week, as an invitation for faculty and coaches to experience what student-athletes are accomplishing on a daily basis.
Among the highlights early in the week include a Student Social in the Scot Center's Governance Room on Monday, April 3, with a $1 donation requested in support of the "Battle 4 Bridget" to coincide with the NCAA Div. I Men's Basketball Championship Game.
Further donations can be made at most every varsity athletic contest scheduled for the week, which includes a baseball game on Wednesday afternoon, softball doubleheaders on Wednesday and Saturday, and women's lacrosse games on Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon. SAAC will host Black & Gold games with free popcorn for students during Wednesday's 4 p.m. baseball game versus Marietta College, Saturday's 1 p.m. women's lacrosse game against Ohio Wesleyan University, and the second game of Saturday's 1 p.m. softball twin bill against Kenyon College.
Another highlight includes Scot Spirit Day, which takes place on Tuesday, April 4. Students and fans are encouraged to sport school gear or clothing from last year's national "It's On Us" campaign, which aimed at encouraging everyone on college campuses to take ownership of sexual assault prevention and response.
Other causes for celebration include Athletic Trainer Appreciation Day on Friday, April 7, as well as two volunteer activities to take place on Friday, April 21 to supplement the activity-packed NCAA Div. III Week. Those activities include a clean-up at the Melissa Schultz Nature Preserve located at the Montessori School of Wooster and a day of service spent at the Cornerstone Elementary Festival.
NCAA Div. III Week was developed in 2013 to recognize student-athletes' impact on the campus and surrounding community while also celebrating their academic accomplishment, athletic experience, and community service.
