Women's Rowing 1/10/2022 4:16:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO Named Finalist for NCAA DII Award of Excellence

INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Central Oklahoma was named a finalist for the 2022 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence, it was announced Monday.

READ THE NCAA RELEASE HERE

Central Oklahoma is one of 26 schools and two conferences that were named finalists. The award recognizes initiatives that exemplify the DII philosophy, community engagement, and student-athlete leadership, according to the NCAA's website.

UCO was selected as the finalist from the MIAA. Six schools were chosen as at-large honorees.

Central's Junior Rowing Program was the initiative selected as a finalist.

UCO launched this past fall the Junior Rowing program, a new mentorship program pairing middle and high school students in the local community with university mentors, as well as Central's three-time defending national champion rowing team.

The program introduced students from underserved populations to the sport of rowing and gave them the opportunity to learn more about higher education. In addition to the Central rowing program, several other areas across campus assisted, including Leadership Central, TRiO Upward Bound Math and Science, TRiO Talent Search and Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP).

The first group of students participating in the program included 19 students, all female, from metro area schools, ranging from the eighth to 10th grade.

The program kicked off during the Oklahoma Regatta Festival. The participating students met each weekend in October, primarily in the Boathouse District, with the final sessions on the UCO campus. The students wrapped up the inaugural program with a campus tour and were also recognized at the Central homecoming football game Oct. 23.

A committee of athletics administrators determined this year's finalists, and the national Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee selects the winner, who will be announced at the Division II business session Jan. 22 at the 2022 NCAA Convention.

Each finalist will receive $500. In addition, the winner will receive $2,500, the first runner-up will receive $1,250 and the second runner-up will receive $1,000. All prize money is intended to be used for future SAAC initiatives or community engagement events.

Print Friendly Version