Bears Nominated for NCAA Division III LGBTQ Athletics Department of the Year Award

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University Department of Athletics & Recreation has been nominated for the inaugural 2020 Division III LGBTQ Athletics Department/Conference of the Year Award. The nomination was announced by the NCAA Division III LGBTQ OneTeam Recognition Award Selection Committee.

This prestigious new award recognizes and honors a Division III athletics department or conference office that has demonstrated proactive efforts to create and sustain an LGBTQ-inclusive culture.

“We are honored to be nominated for the inaugural NCAA Division III LGBTQ OneTeam Recognition Award,” said BSU Director of Athletics & Recreation, Dr. Marybeth Lamb. “This nomination recognizes the important inclusion practices that we, throughout the BSU Community and especially intercollegiate athletics, have taken to ensure that we are a welcoming environment for all our student-athletes.”

“We will continue to evolve and improve our assessments and practices to make sure that our LGBTQ community is welcomed throughout the program – both athletics and recreation,” Lamb added. “We are very proud of this nomination.”

Bridgewater State is one of eight Division III institutions to receive the nomination for the inaugural LGBTQ Athletics Department/Conference of the Year Award. The Bears are joined by Fairleigh Dickinson University (Florham), Haverford College, the Middle Atlantic Conference, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, Purchase College and Vassar College.

Initiated by the Division III LGBTQ Working Group, the awards program was unveiled during the LGBTQ and Allies Reception at the 2019 NCAA Convention. The nomination period was open from February to June 2020. The selection committee reviewed approximately 40 nominations, and conducted two rounds of evaluations with the purpose of identifying a standout nominee in each category. The award recipients will be notified in November and will be announced and publicly recognized in conjunction with the virtual 2021 NCAA Convention.