The NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is initiating a partnership with Special Olympics in a coordinated community-outreach effort that incorporates the hundreds of SAACs at Division III schools and conference offices with the Special Olympics Programs that exist in each state.

Former Macalester volleyball player Marie Godwin '10 is chair is the Division III SAAC and is spearheading the effort, which was announced Jan. 15 during the Division III business session at the NCAA Convention, combines the student-athlete citizenship component already in place locally with the vast SAAC network throughout Division III – all under the umbrella of the division's new strategic-positioning platform.

“We believe this relationship with Special Olympics is a perfect fit for Division III,” said Godwin. “Special Olympics is an established nationally recognized organization with programs offered in every state, and they involve hands-on interaction and physical activity, which are elements our committee believes are important with an initiative such as this.”

Godwin addressed the convention to discuss the program.

Read the Story and view a video featuring Godwin on NCAA.org