CUNYAC Earns NCAA Division III Diversity Spotlight Initiative Award

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Oct. 3, 2018) - On Tuesday, the City University of New York Athletic Conference was selected as the recipient of the NCAA Division III Diversity Spotlight Initiative. It is the second time since launching a groundbreaking Inclusive Sports program last December that the CUNYAC was chosen as the recipient of the award. The NCAA Division III Diversity Spotlight Initiative recognizes and promotes outstanding diversity related projects, programming and initiatives that are occurring on Division III campuses and in conference offices. Each month, the award recognizes an institution or conference in regard to a diversity related event, program or initiative with a $500 stipend towards its next diversity project. This past August, the CUNYAC teamed up with the prestigious Ryan Martin Foundation for its inaugural CUNY Wheelchair Basketball Clinic. The event brought in over 100 attendees for a two-hour camp, led by National Wheelchair Basketball Association standout Ryan Martin. The camp was a continual joint effort with the CUNY Central Office of Student Affairs, University Student Senate (USS) and CUNY Coalition for Students With Disabilities (CCSD) to promote their growing Inclusive and Adaptive Sports programming. "It is a great honor to receive this distinguished award from the NCAA," said CUNYAC Assistant Director for External Relations and Compliance Joseph Awadjie. "Our dream is to have a wheelchair basketball team that can compete on numerous levels. With the help of our students, CUNY Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Christopher Rosa and the Ryan Martin Foundation, I strongly believe this dream and goal will be achieved."