Arkansas Tech University has been selected to represent the Great American Conference as a finalist for the 2017 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence.
According to a news release from the NCAA, the award recognizes “events that exemplify any of the six Division II attributes: learning, balance, resourcefulness, sportsmanship, passion and service.”
Among the approximately 300 institutions that hold membership in NCAA Division II, only 25 were selected as finalists for the award.
Arkansas Tech earned the recognition based upon its “Paint the Town Green and Gold” campaign, a cooperative effort with the ATU Connection Committee of the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce to rally support for the university and its athletic teams at the beginning of the 2016-17 academic year.
This marks the fourth consecutive year that Arkansas Tech has been selected as the finalist from the Great American Conference for the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence.
The national winner will receive a cash prize of $1,500 and a nationally-televised football or basketball game during the 2017-18 season. The first runner-up will receive a $1,250 cash prize and the second-runner-up will receive $1,000. Each finalist institution receives $500.
All financial awards from the program are earmarked for use toward future community engagement initiatives.
The two runner-up recipients and the overall winner will be announced during the 2017 NCAA Convention on Jan. 21 in Nashville, Tenn.
