February 18

DC Student-Athletes Honored with National Service Award
Courtesy of Kathy Punches, DC Dir. of Public Relations

DEFIANCE, Ohio – For the second time in three years, a group of Defiance College student-athletes has earned a Community Service Award from the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators and Jostens. Eighteen institutions and/or conferences across the country are being recognized for the impressive community service projects performed by their student-athletes during the 2006-07 academic year.

Defiance College earned an Award of Merit for a project in which eight Defiance football players accompanied by head coach Robert Taylor spent several days in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans conducting restoration work on homes and helping at a Toys for Tots event.

Student-athletes participating were Josh Staggs, Kyle Fuller, Mike Haydon, John Lancaster, Andrew Mickey, Robert Miller, Josh Roe and Eric Stricklin. The project was nominated for the award by DC athletic director Dr. Richard Kaiser. Funding for the project was provided by Defiance’s McMaster School for Advancing Humanity.

“This was a life-changing event for these young men and Coach Taylor,” said Kaiser. “They took it upon themselves to drive 2,400 miles round-trip to try to help out somebody in need. This is the second time in three years that Defiance has been honored by Jostens for an outstanding student-athlete service project.”

Craig Rutter, assistant athletic director for student-athlete engagement, noted that the New Orleans project conducted by members of the football team is indicative of the efforts put forth by all of Defiance’s student-athletes. During the 2006-07 academic year, student-athletes at DC contributed more than 2,000 hours of service in the Defiance area and around the country.

“We’re changing attitudes, showing people that you can make a difference one person at a time,” said Rutter.

Noting that many service trips have been made to the New Orleans and Biloxi areas by Defiance College and community groups in recent years, Rutter stressed, “It’s about the relationships you build with the people you are serving. People know you care when you come back, when you become a familiar face.”

The awards program is co-sponsored by the NADIIIAA and Jostens and is intended to recognize the many contributions Division III student-athletes regularly make to their campuses and local communities. Awards were presented at the NCAA Convention held recently in Nashville. Defiance College was the only Ohio school to receive recognition

The NADIIIAA is an association comprised of athletics administrators from the nearly 450 institutions and 40 conferences competing at the NCAA Division III level. A primary purpose of the NADIIIAA is to encourage the continued development of athletics programs focused on the student-athlete and based on sound educational philosophy.

Minneapolis-based Jostens is a leading provider of products, programs and services that help people celebrate important moments, recognize achievements and build affiliation. The company’s products include yearbooks, class rings, graduation products, school photography, employee and achievement awards, and products for athletics departments and their fans. Jostens is the exclusive sponsor of the NADIIIAA.