LVC Athletics Celebrates Annual Division III Week

Lebanon Valley College joined hundreds of other schools around the nation in celebrating the NCAA's annual Division III Week earlier in April.

As described by the NCAA, Division III Week is a positive opportunity for all individuals associated with Division III to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on campus and in the surrounding community. During the week, every Division III school and conference office is 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.

LVC is using Division III Week as an opportunity to promote the importance of mental health among the campus community. Initiatives throughout the week included:

- A number of student-athletes, including men's soccer's Nate Gibbons, softball's Lexi Windsor, men's tennis and men's swimming's Jordan Heavel, and women's swimming's Ellie McNamara, as well as Lebanon Valley strength & conditioning coach Jared Hatz, shared their thoughts on the importance of mental health in a college setting, with posters containing their quotes to be displayed around campus and video interviews to be released on social media throughout the week.

- Teanna Shutt, a member of the women's soccer and women's track and field teams, also shared this powerful reflection about her battle with depression.

- A mental health awareness workshop as part of the College's ongoing Step UP! campaign.

- Mental health-themed athletic contests.

The College's Student Athlete Advisory Committee also gave away a limited number of specially-designed Division III Week t-shirts starting 15 minutes before each athletic contest. The shirts were emblazoned with LVC's #DutchmenStepUp hashtag and include a lime green color scheme in conjunction with its use to promote mental health awareness. A number of lime green mental health awareness wristbands were also available for fans at all games.

Get more LVC Athletics news at www.godutchmen.com.