Cal State Stanislaus Athletics has been recognized by NCAA Division II and the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators as having one of the best community service events for its work on helping to raise funds for the Children's Craniofacial Association.

Under the guidance of Associate Athletics Director Kim Duyst, Warrior student-athletes and staff hosted the Henry's March benefiting the Children's Craniofacial Association. The event, which featured a 5K race, a kids 100-meter dash and a mascot challenge, was held on campus on March 15. Duyst met with event organizers and coordinated the on-campus efforts to make this year's inaugural event magical.

The event, which brought more than 500 community members on campus, raised $25,000 in support for the CCA and children with Apert syndrome. Coverage of the event is available at WarriorAthletics.com/henrysmarch.

Cal State Stanislaus is the winner representing the California Collegiate Athletic Association for a Community Engagement Award of Excellence. Warrior Athletics will receive a $500 grant that can be used for other community-engagement efforts.

Northern Michigan won the national award for its Fall Sports Kick-Off, an event that allowed more than 3,000 community members access to facilities, coaches and student-athletes in showcasing its athletics programs.

Division II and NACMA staged the contest to build momentum for Division II's community-engagement initiative and reward institutions for their creativity in advancing the initiative. Division II schools were encouraged to submit their best community-engagement promotion from the “ideas that work” section on the Division II community-engagement Web site (www.diicommunity.org).

Other conference winners were:

•         California Collegiate Athletic Association – Cal State Stanislaus (Henry's March, benefiting the Children's Craniofacial Association)

•         Central Atlantic – Philadelphia U. (Ram Madness, which collected funds for the Northern Home for Children)

•         Conference Carolinas – Coker (Taste of Coker, raising funds for the Coker Athletic Booster Club)

•         East Coast – NYIT (Night Out On The Bears, which included free physical fitness advice, games and food for children and their families)

•         Great Lakes Valley – Bellarmine (Think Pink, to raise breast-cancer awareness)

•         Great Northwest – Montana State-Billings (A Soccer Home for the Billings Community, to raise money for a community soccer field)

•         Gulf South – Arkansas Tech (National Girls and Women in Sports Day event)

•         Heartland – Dallas Baptist (Operation Christmas Child, to provide help for underprivileged children around the world)

•         Independents – Chaminade (The Palolo Softball/Soccer Camps and Think Pink initiatives)

•         Lone Star – Eastern New Mexico (High Hopes Benefit dinner and dance)

•         Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – Emporia State (Full Circle, helping senior citizens)

•         North Central – Nebraska-Omaha (UNO Rake-A-Thon, student-athletes doing yard work)

•         Northeast-10 – Stonehill (Easton Appreciation Day, student-athletes instructing children in baseball)

•         Northern Sun – Southwest Minnesota State (SMSU Ag Bowl)

•         Peach Belt – UNC Pembroke (Lumber River Senior Games, helping senior citizens stay active)

•         Pennsylvania State – Slippery Rock (National Girls and Women in Sports Day event)

•         Rocky Mountain – Metro State (Building Bridges to the Community, helping local high school sports)

•         South Atlantic – Lincoln Memorial (LMU Baseball Youth Coaches Clinic)

•         Southern Intercollegiate – Benedict (Harambee Festival: A Power for Good in the Community)

•         Sunshine State – Tampa (Wendy's FanFest)

•         West Virginia Intercollegiate – Shepherd (Presidential Inauguration, which included a football weekend as part of the festivities)