Purchase, NY (Dec. 14, 2016) – Purchase College and its diverse group of student-athletes has caught the eye of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Like the college itself, the programs are committed to a highly qualified and diverse student body, whose members are well-poised to succeed. This "Think Wide Open" viewpoint will now be honored by the NCAA with an honorable mention recipient award for NCAA/Minority Opportunities Athletics Association Award for Diversity and Inclusion.

The Panthers learned of this prestigious honor this week. The honorable mention will be showcased during the NCAA's conference in January in Nashville, Tennessee. In attendance for Purchase athletics will be Athletic Director Chris Bisignano, Sports Information Director Bobby Ciafardini and standout student-athlete Christopher Williams. Williams has been selected by the NCAA to attend the DIII Student Immersion program – another honor and first for the department.

"We are very inclusive and diverse as a staff and as a college," said Bisignano, "and to be recognized for the hard work that my staff does and the college does, it's a nice feeling. We take great pride in this award."

Purchase College, which takes a holistic review of all applicants and considers the various personal experiences and circumstances that have shaped each individuals, is well documented when it comes to encouraging all – regardless of race or gender – to be part of the campus community and that also applies to athletics. The program has been at the forefront of transgender polices for college programs and the NCAA.  

The department has applied for the highly competitive honor previously, and this year marks the first selection during the NCAA's fifth year of selecting recipients. Nominations were open in August and due by the end of September.

The award represents a partnership formed by the NCAA and the MOAA to recognize and celebrate the initiatives, policies and practices of schools and offices that embrace diversity and inclusion across the intercollegiate athletics community.  This can be achieved through community service, professional development, hiring practices or programming activities that enhance opportunities for people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and experiences.

The 2017 winner and the honorable mentions will be recognized at the convention and participate at the MOAA Symposium to be held in conjunction with the NACDA Convention in June 2017.

As part of the award presentation that will take place at the Association Luncheon during convention (Friday, January 20, 2017), the NCAA Office of Inclusion creates banners to celebrate and recognize the winners and honorable mentions for the award.

The application process included letters of support, one from Backyard Sports' Danny Bernstein.   

"I am writing this letter to support the application for the athletic department of Purchase College as a recipient of the NCAA diversity and inclusion award," Bernstein wrote. "Since 2006 my organization has teamed with Purchase College to bring a variety of athletic programs to those athletes who have been denied traditional access to team and recreational sports due to either demographic or cognitive challenges.

"In short, I could not have found a better partner. We have collaborated with our organization to bring a wide variety of athletic offerings including basketball, soccer, baseball, swimming and tennis. In addition to providing a home for our programs, we have received the steady support of their coaches and student-athletes. These individuals have contributed their time and passion both as peer mentors and role models to those athletes most in need of their support."   

For more information on the selection process and the award, click here.