FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Courtesy of Emmanuel Athletics Communications

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College Athletic Department has been recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as the winning recipient for a story it submitted about the Saints' participation in a Special Olympics event hosted this past November.

Each month, the NCAA highlights three stories from around the country of athletic departments and their involvement with the Special Olympics. Emmanuel College was selected as a December/January nominee along with fellow GNAC member Norwich University and Westminster College.

Emmanuel's story featured a Special Olympics Soccer Clinic in the Jean Yawkey Center gymnasium that was very well attended on November 9, 2014.  

Over the two months, the NCAA opened up the poll called the Special Olympics Spotlight in which anyone could vote on their favorite story. Emmanuel received a total of 606 of the 1,293 votes cast (47%) to capture first place in the poll. With the victory, the department has been awarded a $500 prize that can be used to sponsor its next Special Olympics activity.

"This is a well-deserved recognition for what was a wonderful event," said Emmanuel men's basketball head coach Jamahl Jackson.

Jackson, the advisor to the Emmanuel College Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), helped coordinate the event with the local chapter of the Boston Special Olympics.

"We can't wait to host another event on campus with our friends at the Special Olympics. Thanks to the NCAA, we'll be able to make it bigger and better the next time around."