Kenyon’s athletics department, in conjunction with the Kenyon Student-Athlete Association, has planned a series of events to celebrate the annual NCAA Division III Week, observed this year April 3–9.
The week-long occasion is an opportunity for all individuals associated with NCAA Division III to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student athletes on the campus and surrounding community. During DIII week, Division III institutions and conference offices are 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.
NCAA Division III at Kenyon will not focus on just one of those areas. Instead, events have been planned to encompass all three categories.
Events will kick off on Monday with a group discussion regarding “life after athletics.” Senior athletes will talk about their experiences in athletics and how their participation helped them prepare for life after college. The discussion, which will start at 6 p.m. in Peirce Pub, will be moderated by Assistant Director of Athletics Justin Newell and Assistant Director of Career Development Lee Schott.
Tuesday will be Kenyon’s second annual Celebration of High Impact Practices, which will be held in the Kenyon Athletic Center (KAC) from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The campus-wide event celebrates student success on the Hill and fosters intellectual discussion and creative engagement on campus.
At 4 p.m. Tuesday, the men’s lacrosse team will host The College of Wooster. The game has been designated an Appreciation Game for Kenyon student athletes to thank members of Kenyon’s faculty and staff for their support throughout the year.
The Ladies softball team will then host Denison University in a Wednesday doubleheader starting at 3:30 p.m. The games are being organized as a Purple Pride event and will feature a t-shirt give-away.
On Thursday, counseling psychologist Steve Graef will deliver a Common Hour presentation in Rosse Hall. His talk will focus on the important role that psychology has in sport and performance, as well as in mental and physical well-being.
Friday, Kenyon’s sports information department, in conjunction with the Kenyon Sports Connection, will release a special video. The video will explore the role of athletics on a Division III campus and will feature interviews with student athletes and coaches as well as faculty and staff.
On Saturday, the Lords baseball team hosts Hiram College in a doubleheader that will begin at noon. These games are also designated as Purple Pride events and will feature another t-shirt give-away. Additionally, the KAC will host Relay for Life, the signature fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. The Relay is staffed and coordinated by volunteers, who give of their time and effort to take action against cancer.
Additionally on Saturday, the Knox County Special Olympics team will begin practicing at Wilder Track in preparation for the Ohio State Special Olympics track meet in June. Kenyon student athletes will be on hand to assist and interact with the participants.