NCAA Release
Missouri S&T release on Joey's Day wish reveal (April 10, 2016)
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Missouri S&T is among 24 NCAA institutions, along with one conference, that has been named as a finalist for the 2017 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence, which recognizes positive campus and community engagement hosted during the past year.
NCAA Division II selects one finalist from each conference and one independent representative to be recognized for events that exemplify one of the division's six attributes – learning, balance, resourcefulness, sportsmanship, passion and service.
Missouri S&T was selected as the winner from the Great Lakes Valley Conference for its Joey's Day wish reveal in April, which was led by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. S&T's SAAC, along with the department of athletics, hosted a wish reveal on campus for an area youth battling cancer.
During the event, Joey, an eight-year old from Waynesville, Mo., who was diagnosed with Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma in February 2014, received memorabilia from each of the Missouri S&T athletic teams, was named as an honorary member of the Miner baseball team and also received a football autographed by defensive back Eric Berry of the Kansas City Chiefs, who was also diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma and following treatment, returned to the playing field for the 2015 season.
Following those presentations, Joey's wish was revealed by representatives from Make-A-Wish Missouri, Missouri S&T and the city of Rolla – that his dream of going to Disney World would come true.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is the official charity of NCAA Division II and its national Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
The NCAA will select an overall winner and two runner-ups for its overall award on Saturday, Jan. 21 at the NCAA Division II business session during the national convention in Nashville, Tenn. The winner will receive $1,500 and a nationally televised football or basketball game during the 2017-18 season, while the first runner-up will receive $1,250 and the second runner-up will receive $1,000.
All prize money – including the $500 Missouri S&T and the other 24 finalists will receive from the NCAA – is expected to be used on future community engagement initiatives.
