Manhattanville Athletics Department Wins Top National Community Services Award

January 13, 2017, Purchase, NY -- The Manhattanville College Department of Athletics received the highest level of national recognition for its community service efforts from the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA), as Manhattanville was named the Winner in the "One-Time Project" category as part of the annual NADIIIAA/Jostens Community Service Awards, the NADIIIAA announced this Wednesday.

Members of the Manhattanville women's soccer and women's lacrosse teams sorted and arranged the donated clothing before the event, and then served as individual mentors to the teenagers as tandems picked out outfits and accessories together for the girls to take home.

The honor marks the third straight year and the sixth time in the last 10 years that Manhattanville has earned national plaudits for its wide-ranging community service efforts, but the first time that Manhattanville (or any MAC Freedom institution) has earned a top honor. In addition to receiving a commemorative trophy at the NCAA Convention on January 18, NADIIIAA and Jostens will also make a $1,000 contribution to Manhattanville's general scholarship fund.

"I am thrilled to accept this award on behalf of our women's soccer and women's lacrosse student-athletes," Director of Athletics Keith Levinthal said. "It always gives me great pleasure to see our athletes making a difference, but even more so to see our students having a direct and personal impact on the lives of young people in our area. To be recognized on a national level once again for this work is a tremendous honor and reflects all that our 300-plus student-athletes do in the community."

"It's a really unique and rewarding experience that is very different from other community service work we do; usually you're helping out at some big event, but this one is much more personal," said senior women's lacrosse goalie Lauren Cassidy. "The one-on-one interactions with the girls give you the opportunity to really get involved with people and see first-hand how the little things can really make a difference in someone's day and life."

With its sixth honor since 2007, only four Division III institutions have earned more NADIIIAA/Jostens Community Service Awards than Manhattanville over that span. The department previously earned an Award of Merit in the "One-Time Project" category for the 2006-07 school year, and has also has earned four honors in the "Array of Projects" category: one Award of Merit (2007-08) and three honorable mentions (2006-07, 2013-14 and 2014-15).

The Manhattanville Department of Athletics has a long tradition of giving back to the local community through service activities, encouraging our student-athletes to engage in activities designed to support the surrounding Westchester County, New York and Southern Connecticut communities. During the 2015-16 school year, Manhattanville athletic teams volunteered over 2,500 hours of time, enthusiasm and energy that raised money and awareness for a number of important causes.

About Manhattanville College:

Manhattanville College (www.manhattanville.edu) is an independent, co-educational liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence and social and civic action. Manhattanville prepares students to be ethical and socially responsible leaders in a global community. Located just 30 minutes from New York City, Manhattanville serves 1,800 undergraduate students and 1,100 graduate students from more than 45 countries and 40 states. Founded in 1841, the College offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education business, creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs.