Springfield College Honored at Jostens/NADIIIAA Community Service Awards

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield College received an honorable mention in the category of “one time project/activity” at the Jostens/National Association Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) Community Service Awards reception at the annual NCAA Convention held in January.

The recognition was a result of the Springfield College varsity softball team and its collaboration with Team IMPACT, a nonprofit organization that assists children suffering from serious medical conditions. Team IMPACT connected the Springfield College varsity softball team with the family of Celia LaBarbera, an 8-year-old girl battling neurofibromatosis 2. The team adopted LaBarbera as one of its own by making her a part of their team – from having her sit on the bench with the team at practices and games; announcing her name over the public address system at games; outlining her name in white chalk behind home plate at the team’s games; and having her wear her own game day t-shirt. Team members also communicated with LaBarbera over the phone during away games and visited her home during and after the season.

The NADIIIAA and Jostens annually co-sponsor this community service recognition program to acknowledge the many contributions Division III student-athletes regularly make to their campuses and local communities. The program recognizes institutions in three separate community service categories.