COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland student-athletes and staff have been participating in the 2019 Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign driven by the NCAA in an effort to continue to bring awareness to and promote diversity and inclusion as vital elements in the success of student-athletes.
The campaign stemmed from the success of the 2018 inaugural campaign, in which the NCAA partnered with the Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC) and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAACs).
Check out all the great things Maryland's SAAC has been up to this week on social media
here.
"I love that the NCAA is using social media campaigns like this one to celebrate the diversity of student-athletes and athletic communities because it gives us the chance to interact, connect with, and learn from other athletes not only at Maryland but around the country," said junior softball player, Taylor Wilson, who is also the Co-Chair of the Terps Together Committee for Maryland's SAAC. "My favorite part about the campaign has been seeing what other schools are doing to highlight their student-athletes and their identities beyond athletics."
The campaign runs from Oct. 22-25, each day having a different theme for participants to bring awareness to. The first day of the campaign started with "This is Who We Are," a focal point of the core values and multiple identities of student-athletes. Day two, "Broadening Our Horizons," was focused on creating connections across campus and highlighting diverse friendships, mentors and role models. Day three, "Better Together," highlighted the strength and diversity of each campus or conference community.The final day is all about "Taking Action," where participants outline their personal action steps for inclusive excellence.
"The NCAA Inclusion office is truly setting the tone for how we as administrators can open the door for all student-athletes to feel like they have the space to show all of their identities," Resa Lovelace, Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Development stated. "Being able to work with our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and see how excited they get to support one another through this campaign shows me that we have a strong community that appreciates all the identities that every student-athlete, coach and administrator hold."
The Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign is a platform for student-athletes, administrators, coaches and fans across the country to bring awareness to and promote diversity and inclusion as vital elements in the success of student-athletes. With a variety of student-athletes and social media being at the forefront of the information age, the goal is to engage social media creating dialogue on diversity and inclusion and the benefit of inclusive environments to student-athletes.
To learn more about the Diversity and Inclusion Social Media Campaign, visit www.ncaa.org. Learn more about the campaign, how your school can participate and contribute, and how to keep the campaign going when the week is up.
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