Despite the irregularities of the Fall semester, members of the Humboldt State University Department of Athletics and their teams did not sit idly by, choosing instead to actively contribute to civic engagement on the Humboldt State University campus.  Both the Humboldt State women’s soccer and women’s basketball teams held events during the fall of 2020 with donations of those events going to HSU’s African American Center for Academic Excellence. With these efforts, Humboldt State was named one of the twenty-eight schools and one conference as the finalists for the 2021 Division II Award of Excellence, an accolade recognizing initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership.

 "Humboldt State University athletics is honored to be a finalist for such a prestigious award from NCAA Division II. It is through the support of our university administrators, faculty, and staff, that our student-athletes and athletic department staff can embrace community outreach and be leaders in working for change. We are proud of their initiative and commitment to the Humboldt State community,” said Humboldt State University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports Jane Teixeira.

In September 2020, the Lumberjack women’s soccer team made bracelets with donations going to the Humboldt State's African American Center for Academic Excellence.  From October 15-19, 2020, the Humboldt State women’s basketball team held “Race For Change” with donations also going to the African American Center for Academic Excellence.  The Race For Change was a 5K virtual bike, swim, run or walk to help bring awareness and make progress towards racial justice.  Both teams raised over a combined $2,000 for the African Center for Academic Excellence.

The mission of the African American Center for Academic Excellence is to cultivate, coordinate and contribute to institutional efforts to support Humboldt State University students that identify as African American, Black, and/or of African descent.

Division II honors its members each year for conducting events that promote student-athletes giving back and serving as leaders within their communities or on their campus.  A committee of athletics administrators determined this year’s finalists, and the national Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will select the winner, which will be announced at the Division II business session Jan. 15 at the virtual 2021 NCAA Convention.

Each finalist will receive $500.  The winner will receive $2500, the first runner-up will receive $1,250 and the second runner-up will receive $1,000.  All prize money is intended for future SAAC initiative or community engagement events.

For the link to the release on the NCAA Website, click here.