The National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) announced the recipients of this year's NADIIIAA/JOSTENS Community Service Awards. Aurora University athletics was among the institutions and conferences recognized for the impressive community service projects performed by its student-athletes during the 2016-17 academic year.

AU was recognized in the "On-Going Project Category" for their work with Hesed House in Aurora. Spartan Athletics began the partnership with Hesed House in the fall of 2015 with the objective to connect homeless children who lacked consistent mentors in their lives with Aurora University student-athletes to create opportunities for positive connections and mentorship.

Hesed House is one of the largest homeless shelters in Illinois has a large resident population. Many of the residents are families with mothers and young children and are lacking the presence of their fathers or another male role models in their lives. Another objective of this particular partnership has been to interject positive male role models into the lives of these children, hoping to create a positive impact on them as they work through a time of uncertainty in their lives.

Hesed House is a non-for-profit organization and nearly all of the work is done by volunteers. One of the most pressing needs at Hesed House besides shelter, is to create a safe and constructive environment for all of the residents, particularly the children. The afterschool program is run by a volunteer staff and provides the resident children with structured time after school to study, socialize and play.

The 22 Spartan intercollegiate athletic programs partner with several other student groups on AU campus to attend the afterschool program and interact/play with the kids in the program. The AU group plans an activity, often a game or sport, and brings all of the necessary equipment to implement and play the game. Each week 8-10 students/students-athletes visit Hesed House to add a much needed activity to their afterschool program and to help mentor the young children in attendance.

"Our student-athletes benefit tremendously from the program as well," said AU Assistant Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Wellbeing / Senior Woman Administrator Nicole Pieart. "They know the hard lives these young children are living and take so much pride in being a positive force in their lives and a bright spot in their week."

The awards program, (full awards program release - click here) established in 2001, 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. The awards were presented during the NADIIIAA Awards Reception at the NCAA Convention held in Nashville, Tennessee on January 21.