AUnity

Aurora University is committed to the personal, social, career, and leadership development of all students. AUnity is a focus on the holistic development of AU student-athletes to best supplement the athletic development that occurs at the highest level. AUnity is our quest to create student-athletes who are well-rounded and best prepared for the next stages of life.

Men's Golf - Folds of Honor Challenge
Women's Volleyball - Dig Pink “Pink Heals”
Women's Soccer - Morgan's Message Mental Health Awareness Game
Men's Soccer - Fox Valley Special Recreation Association "Spartan for a Day"
Women's Hockey - Pink the Rink
Women's Hockey - The Hidden Opponent (THO) Awareness Night
Men's Hockey - Teddy Bear Toss
Men's Hockey - Skate with the Spartans
Women's Lacrosse - Morgan Message
Football - SEASPAR Game
Mens Basketball - NABL
Athletics Student-Athlete Advisory Committee - Project Linus
Purpose: Game Plan for Success: Build Your Professional Brand—A workshop designed for AU Student-Athletes to help build you professional brand and prepare for life beyond athletics.
Tell Your Story
Build Your Linkedin Profile
Professional Headshots
The 2025 NCAA Division III Week is shared below. Spartan student-athletes participated in sessions and service committed to the personal, social, career, and leadership development of all students.
Monday, April 7 - Cornhole and Campus Connections
Kick off DIII Week with a friendly cornhole tournament open to students, faculty, and staff.

Tuesday, April 8 - Build Your Brand: Headshots and LinkedIn
Stop by for a free a professional headshot, ideal for your LinkedIn or professional portfolio.
Learn how to elevate your online presence and leverage your athletic experience for future opportunities.

Wednesday, April 9 - Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day
Let's recognize the support of our incredible faculty and staff!

Thursday, April 10 - Service to the Community: Spartans at Work
Let's give back together!
Edgelawn Cleanup and Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry

Friday, April 11 - Celebrating our Seniors
Honors Convocation - Recognizing excellence across campus, including many of our student-athletes.

Saturday, April 12 - Sparty Party!
Celebrate the week with games, giveaways, Raising Cane's, and outdoor fun!
Monday, Oct. 14 - Life Mapping U
1833 Leadership Academy
Tuesday, Oct. 15 - “Who Am I?”:
Share an aspect of your identity and how it contributes to who you are.
Employers/placement firms will discuss why the seek out student-athletes
Wednesday, Oct 16 - “Leveling the Playing Field”:
Highlight what your student-athletes, administrators and school are doing to level the playing field for student-athletes, coaches and administrators holding historically underserved identities.
Fox Valley Special Recreation Association will join us at Men's Soccer 7pm game
Thursday, Oct. 17 - “One Step Forward”:
Develop and share action steps on how you will strive to improve your individual and collective efforts toward inclusion and belonging.
ADID Keith Wise will host Spartan Summit, including guest speaker William Parrish , opens in new tab
Images from the events of the 2024 NCAA Division III Week and AUnity are shared below. Spartan student-athletes participated in sessions and service committed to the personal, social, career, and leadership development of all students.
Community Service - Clean-up Edgelawn Road and Dinner at Hesed House
Wellness & Mental Health - Sports Psychology led by Grow Wellness
Leadership - Leadership Enhancement: Led by the 1833 Leadership Program
Career Exploration - Panel of alumni spoke on their time as Spartans and their current career
Where Athletics Meets Purpose
Your Journey Starts Here: Celebrate the Division III student-athlete experience through competition, growth, and community.
MONDAY (4/6) Kick Off & Project Linus: Start Your Journey: Spartan Service & Spirit

TUESDAY (4/7): Build Your Future: Gameplan for Success Workshop

How to identify your transferable skills from athletics to the workforce.
Tips for building your resume and interviews
Professional Head Shots

WEDNESDAY (4/8): Game Day: Compete the Spartan Way
Baseball: Cancer Awareness Game
Men’s Lacrosse: Mental Health Hidden Opponent & Presentation of FAR Award

THURSDAY (4/9): Draft Your Dream Team: Building Your Personal Board of Directors

Identifying who you should have on your personal board of directors that can help support you at AU and beyond
Tour of the Wackerlin Center to be familiar with the space and their services

FRIDAY (4/10) Edgelawn Clean Up: Spartan Service: Leading Through Community Impact
SATURDAY (4/11): Reset & Recharge
SUNDAY (4/12): Sparty Party
Celebrate the Journey: Spartan Impact in Action
Explore. Compete. Lead.

AUnity Mission Statement and Pillars

As a top-tier Division III athletics department, the development of AU student-athletes is at the forefront of our mission. AUnity develops and supports student-athletes to become leaders and well-rounded young adults prepared to succeed in their chosen careers. The comprehensive programming focuses on leadership development, wellness, finding purpose, and advancing inclusion. Through interactive workshops, speakers, and practical leadership experiences, AUnity develops and supports student-athletes at a level that matches their athletic success.

AUnity develops, educates, and challenges Spartan student-athletes in their continuous quest to become leaders in the classroom, the community, and athletic arena. Using intentional educational programming, the AUnity program builds team camaraderie and also develops leadership skills that benefit students now and in the future.
Cans Across the Conference
Project Linus
Department wide partnership with Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry
1833 Leadership Academy
Team building programming
Speaker Series
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, opens in new tab (SAAC)
Assisting young adults to help them understand their passion and purpose to assist their choice of a career path is an import task of the AUnity program. We want every Spartan to pick an area of study and ultimately choose a career that follows their sense of purpose. We also believe the calling to assist others through service is important to develop well-rounded students.
Career Exploration
Community Service
Spartan Athletics is committed to diversity and inclusion and work to enlighten Spartans during their time at AU. We often say that an athletic locker room is the place in which people from various backgrounds, religions, and races come together to work towards common goals. The AUnity program looks to develop young adults so this mentality follows them when they begin their careers.
Diversity and Inclusion at AU, opens in new tab
Additional Information, opens in new tab
Keith Wise, opens in new tab - Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee (ADID)
Mariza Rocha, opens in new tab - Director of Latino/a. Initiative
Mental health awareness, proper nutrition, sufficient rest and recovery, and confidence to perform all greatly impact the academic and athletic careers of AU student-athletes. AUnity provides the tools for Spartans to be in peak performance shape to succeed at their highest possible levels in all areas during their college careers.
Student-Athlete Wellness, opens in new tab
Sports Medicine, opens in new tab
Sports Performance, opens in new tab
The Spartan Recovery Room in the lower level of Alumni Hall was created in the summer of 2023. The room offers nutritional recovery drinks and snacks along with multiple Normatec recovery compression units.

Aurora University Athletics

Score Board