INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University athletics department and its Rising Knight Institute (RKI) has been selected as the March 2020 recipient of the NCAA Division III Diversity Spotlight Initiative, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has announced.
 
NJCU was honored for its work with RKI, Student Athlete Advisory Committee and community outreach initiatives. NJCU was selected for the award for the first time by a committee composed of Division III commissioners and will receive $500 towards its next diversity initiative.
 
"Congratulations! We applaud the institution's implementation of the Rising Knight Institute to support the growing needs of underrepresented and diverse student-athletes," said Dan Dutcher, Vice President for Division III, in a letter to the university. "We congratulate you on your efforts and know that this program will positively impact your student-athletes, coaches, staff and administrators. Your diversity initiative is a demonstration of Division III at its best."   
 
The NCAA Division III Diversity Spotlight Initiative recognizes and promotes outstanding diversity related projects, programming and initiatives that are occurring on Division III campuses and in conference offices. Each month, the award recognizes an institution or conference for its work in this area.
 

Danielle Beam, NJCU's Associate Director of Athletics for Student Development/Director of RKI, said: "The recognition of the NCAA diversity spotlight is a significant milestone for RKI, the athletic department and NJCU as an institution. It embodies our mission and our core values to serve our students, and provide opportunities for them to experience, learn and grow not just as athletes but as people. Most importantly, this award acknowledges the understanding that RKI leads with love above all. We promote diversity and understanding, inclusion and equity because that is in our DNA and it is what we hope inspires all who experience the RKI program."
 
Pete Vincent, the Assistant Director for the Rising Knight Institute added: "Receiving the NCAA Diversity Spotlight award means so much to our entire staff, student-athlete cohort, administration, and entire campus community. Being a campus community that places a strong emphasis on welcoming diversity in a city that is known for being one of the most diverse in the country, this is truly fitting and we accept this acknowledgement with great pride and honor. The Rising Knight Institute strives daily to provide our diverse student-athlete population with the most contemporary approaches to the holistic growth of each and every one of our student-athletes. With that type of support, our student-athletes truly feel the love and care needed to be the best versions of themselves daily. This is only the beginning."
 
In addition to the $500 grant, NJCU will be recognized in the NCAA Division III Monthly Newsletter, the Division III web page and on NCAA Division III social media channels.  
 

This academic year, as a subset of RKI, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) took the helm to highlight and support NJCU's diverse student-athlete population. The peak of this year's diversity and inclusion campaign in October 2019 was a three-part video series produced by the athletic communications office in conjunction with SAAC. On Day 1, "I Am" introduced NJCU student-athlete leaders who discussed their core values with a consistent message of "I Am". On Day 3, the theme of "Better Together" showcased the various countries represented on the Gothic Knight soccer teams and who those student-athletes cheer for. Day 4's theme was "I Will" and the same student-athlete leaders described their personal commitments to taking action.
 
In February, NJCU hosted another successful National Girls and Women in Sports Day event for 200 female attendees from public middle schools and high schools in the Jersey City area. The event welcomed 1976 Olympic Basketball Silver Medalist Gail Marquis, Sky Blue FC general manager Alyse LaHue and NJCU women's wrestling head coach and former two-time U.S. Olympian and World Champion Elena Pirozhkova. The event offered a platform for successful female leaders of all backgrounds to address and interact with the diverse youth of Jersey City and provide insight into leadership, achievements and goal setting.
 
Implemented in fall 2018, RKI's mission is to support the growing needs of NJCU's  underrepresented and diverse Division III student-athlete cohort. RKI is centered in holistic leadership programming such as financial literacy, emotional well-being, career preparation, student-athlete identity, service learning and civic responsibility. Other offerings included service-learning opportunities and attendance at a variety of off-site workshops and presentations connecting Gothic Knight athletes with the greater Jersey City community, RKI culminates each year with the RKI Leadership Symposium and a service-learning trip.
 
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