NCAA Release 

Twenty-six schools were finalists for the 2022 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence but only one could be named the recipient of one of the most prestigious awards in the NCAA. The University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs were honored as the 2022 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence recipient today at the NCAA National Convention for their work with the Green Bandana Project and mental health awareness. This is the first time in Bulldog athletic history they have been honored with the award. The NCAA Award of Excellence accolade recognizes initiatives in the past year that exemplify the Division II philosophy, community engagement and student-athlete leadership. Each finalist received $500 and in addition, the winner will receive $2,500 to be used for future SAAC (student-athlete advisory committee) initiatives or community engagement events.

"Bulldog Athletics is exceptionally humbled and honored to accept one of the NCAA's most prestigious awards on behalf of our student-athletes and their incredible efforts around mental health," said UMD Athletic Director Josh Berlo.  "Every Bulldog team supported the Green Bandana initiative and we could not be prouder of them."

The University of Minnesota Duluth's SAAC (student-athlete advisory committee) first engaged with the Green Bandana Project initiative in the Fall of 2019 as a mental health education and awareness campaign, which has evolved into a student group made up of 55 student-athletes, representing all 16 teams on the University of Minnesota Duluth campus. The campaign's 3 goals are: 1) Decrease the stigma of mental illness within our athletic department/university, 2) Support those struggling with mental illness and suicidal thoughts, and 3) Spread mental health resources.

"I started and pushed for this campaign because I wished something like this existed when I was a freshman," said Becca Osborne, Bulldog women's soccer student-athlete, President/Founder of campaign. "To see where our project started, to what it has become has truly been an amazing experience to be a part of. What makes it so special is that no one person made it happen. It took partnerships between our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and other organizations to become the campaign it is today. There is no better way to describe the impact it has made than to explain the people who it has helped. No one should ever feel alone, and over the past three years we made sure people know that they matter in this world, that it's okay to not be okay, and that it's okay to ask for help."

This campaign inspired Bulldog student-athletes to bring mental health awareness to the next level by partnering with campus counseling services, community mental health professionals and other mental health focused student groups. Through these partnerships the idea was born to host MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS GAMES for all 16 teams during the 2020-2021 academic years, despite the challenges of reduced capacity due to COVID-19.

"We are so honored to receive the Award of Excellence. It has been a joy to watch a few student-athletes passion for mental health awareness spread throughout our student-athletes, campus & local community these past few years," said Laura Schnell, Director of Academic Support and Student-Athlete Welfare. "The Green Bandana Project will have a lasting impact on the culture of our department, as we continue working to end the stigma."  

The UMD Green Bandana Project, planned and executed these awareness games that led to both teams wearing awareness shirts, a creation of awareness videos and messaging throughout the day on social media, in person, and through a televised live stream of the game. These games continued for every spring sport: softball, baseball, tennis, and track; and led to the UMD Athletic Department's Administration approval of an awareness game for every team within the department for the 2021-2022 school year. With the help of the UMD Green Bandana Project, each individual team is given the platform to talk about mental health and use their own voices. Counseling staff from UMD Health Services also speaks to each team individually during the week of their awareness game. Through these games and platforms that student-athletes at UMD have created for themselves, the campaign's message spreads even farther than Duluth. Thousands of fans are in attendance of these awareness games and the message impacts everyone. From parents, to sisters, to grandparents; people from all over contact the campaign in person or through social media to explain the positive impact that the UMD Green Bandana Project has had on their lives. Many current and former student-athletes have acknowledged that the campaign's message was a large reason they felt supported enough to seek help.

"I joined the Green Bandana Project because I wanted to help support a campaign that I believed in grow," said Jordyn Thomas, Bulldog softball student-athlete, Vice-President of campaign. "Born into a Bulldog family, UMD has always been home to me, and being able to give back to my community is an honor. This award shows all of the hard work and dedication everyone has put into spreading our message. The past few years have been challenging in so many ways, and we want everyone to know that it's okay to not be okay. I truly believe Bulldog Country is a family."


From the very beginning, it was evident that the UMD Green Bandana Project had a platform to create real change in the community of Duluth, Minnesota. The success of this initiative is evident when you walk through campus and see the thousands of green bandana's attached to the backpacks of Bulldog students. These green bandanas signify that those who display them are mental health advocates and will support anyone feeling impacted by mental health, and can refer them to mental health resources (a resource card is distributed with each bandana).

"The greatest part of this amazing honor is that it has been 100% student driven," said Karen Stromme, Senior Associate Athletic Director - Internal Operations & Senior Woman Administrator. "We are grateful that Division II has given recognition to our "total package" student-athletes who have made a difference with Mental Health on our campus and in our community!"

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a 16-team union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 24 team national championships and crowned 81 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.

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