PITMAN-- The New Jersey Athletic Conference member institutions participated in the celebration of Division III Week, a week that promotes the ways in which DIII members have provided a well-rounded college experience not only for over 180,000 student-athletes in the largest NCAA division, but for the hundreds of thousands of their predeccesors who have competed since DIII was formed since 1973-74.

"So far this year, we've celebrated our four decades of history at Division III championships and at the NCAA Convention, but this is the best opportunity for our membership to bring the 40th anniversary to their own campuses," said Jack Copeland, Division III identity initiative consultant. And bring it they did.

From April 7-13, the NJAC schools participated in a variety of events including National Student-Athletes days, community engagement activities, and tailgates between faculty, parents, and student-athletes on NJAC game days.

Many NJAC institutions, including Richard Stockton College, Rowan University, Kean University, and Montclair State University athletic departments, hosted National Student-Athlete day. This day recognizes hundreds of student-athletes with GPAs of 3.0 or higher and their accomplishments in the classroom. Certificates were also rewarded to the student-athletes who got inducted into the 2014 Chi Alpha Sigma class.

New Jersey City University hosted a "Sports Buddies Knight", where boys and girls ranging from 8-13 years old played a variety of sports under the guidance of NJCU's coaching staff and student-athletes.

Great job to all our NJAC schools who participated in making Division III proud! #njacpride #whyd3