This week marks the third annual NCAA Division III Week, a celebration of impact athletics and Division III student-athletes have on their campuses and in the surrounding communities. Many GNAC schools are participating in the celebration by conducting outreach activities highlighting the following aspects of DIII athletics: academic accomplishment, athletic experience, or leadership/community service/campus involvement.

Here's how some GNAC schools are celebrating:

Albertus Magnus

The Falcons kicked off DIII Week with "Frankie's Hatch Bash," a birthday party for their mascot, Frankie Falcon. Their women's lacrosse team joined in the week's celebration by spending an afternoon at the New Haven Animal Shelter where they assisted in the care of the animals. Albertus is also promoting all of its athletic contests on campus this week and acknowledging the DIII initiative with announcements at each event.

Johnson & Wales

The Wildcats are gathering people on their campus for some food and fun. They are hosting a tailgate party leading up to the men's lacrosse game against Saint Joseph's College of Maine this weekend.

Mount Ida College

Pep rallies are great activities to get fans and athletes pumped up for a big game. Mount Ida hosted a pep rally for their men's lacrosse game against Saint Joseph's College of Maine to celebrate some of their Division III student-athletes. 

Simmons College

Simmons has several activities scheduled to help promote the DIII message. They invited all members at the college to join them for a cake cutting, a tailgate barbeque, a bake sale, and dodgeball tournament. They are also promoting their community service efforts, encouraging people to sign their banner in support of the Special Olympics "R-Word Campaign." Finally, the Sharks are encouraging their fans to come out and support their softball and lacrosse teams. They are offering fan buses to off-campus sites, an opportunity to participate in a 50/50 raffle, and a chance to show off signs that they made at the bake sale.

Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Student-athletes are the faces of the athletic program. Saint Joseph's College of Maine is taking this week as an opportunity to show off some of those faces. The Monks are creating video features starring some of their student-athletes. They are also highlighting some of them with posters that will be distributed around campus.

They are also getting the academic staff at the college involved in the event by having professors throw out ceremonial first pitches at their baseball and softball games. They held a panel discussion to discuss the relationship between athletics and academics on their campus. The panel featured professors, academic support staff, and student-athletes.

In order to help encourage fans to get involved as well, the Monks will be offering free popcorn and pizza at some of their contests.