WE ARE ONE TEAM (WA1T), a campus-wide initiative founded by SMC doctoral students Yannick Kluch, Chelsea Kaunert, and Christian Thompson, has been honored with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association’s 2017 Award for Diversity and Inclusion.
Given that there are 1,121 NCAA member colleges and universities, this is an immense honor for BGSU and an excellent example of the leadership of SMC graduate students. WE ARE ONE TEAM (WA1T) is a campus-wide initiative that aims to promote social justice through the power of sport at BGSU. Various SMC faculty members have worked with and/or contributed to the initiative’s programming, including Drs. Lara Martin Lengel, Sandra Faulkner, Terry Rentner, and Lisa Hanasono.
“We are thrilled and humbled to receive this prestigious award for our work with WE ARE ONE TEAM (WA1T) at BGSU,” said Kluch, who is in his second year as the president of the initiative. “On behalf of WE ARE ONE TEAM (WA1T), I would like to thank the NCAA for this honor. Our work would not be possible without the hard work of our student and faculty leaders, the BGSU athletics staff, and our over 25 partners across the university. What unites us is a passion for social justice and sport, and I’m beyond happy to see this passion be rewarded and recognized on a national level.”
The award will bring national recognition to WE ARE ONE TEAM (WA1T), BGSU Athletics, and the university in general. Congratulations on this tremendous honor, WE ARE ONE TEAM (WA1T)!