NE10 Institutions Nominate 22 Individuals.
MANSFIELD, Mass. - On Monday afternoon, NCAA Division II announced its 231 nominations for the 50th Anniversary Gold Award - an honor that will recognize two individuals who have made a positive impact in Division II. Schools and conferences were tasked with submitting nominations for the award, which is part of the Division's yearlong 50th anniversary celebration that launched on August 7.
The nominees include current and former student-athletes, coaches, faculty members and administrators from active member schools and conferences who have helped shape Division II over time. Northeast-10 Conference institutions put forward 22 nominations (11 male and 11 female) for the Gold Award, second-most among all DII conferences.
"The nominees reflect the considerable impact so many individuals have had on intercollegiate athletics over the years but also the pride the Division II membership demonstrates consistently in providing the experiences that enable young people to make a positive difference in the world," said Terri Steeb Gronau, vice president of Division II.
Conference offices will review the nominated individuals and select two conference winners by Nov. 6. The NCAA Division II Management Council Identity Subcommittee will review the finalists and select the two overall winners, who will be recognized at the 2024 NCAA Convention in Phoenix.
"The quality of nominees will certainly make it challenging for the Division II Identity Subcommittee to recommend just two Gold Award recipients," Steeb Gronau said. "It truly is eye-opening to read through the candidates' accomplishments and realize how their contributions have made us better as a division."
Among the Northeast-10 Conference's nominations are seven individuals inducted into the NE10 Hall of Fame - Kristen (Patterson) Hutchison, Andrew Laska, Dallas Mall, Barbara Stevens, Edward Markey, Amber Chandronnait and Steve Dagostino. For a full list of NE10 nominees, please see the list below:
| Nominee | School |
| Ronald Davies | Adelphi University |
| Danielle MacKnight | Adelphi University |
| John Gibbons | American International College |
| Kristen (Patterson) Hutchison | American International College |
| Rita Castagna | Assumption University |
| Andrew Laska | Assumption University |
| Dallas Mall | Bentley University |
| Barbara Stevens | Bentley University |
| Cindy Arman | Franklin Pierce University |
| David Chadbourne | Franklin Pierce University |
| Deborah Chin | University of New Haven |
| Tony Mortali | University of New Haven |
| Kyle Van De Giesen | Saint Anselm College |
| Carolyn King-Robitaille | Saint Anselm College |
| Sue Duprat | Saint Michael's College |
| Edward Markey | Saint Michael's College |
| Steve Dagostino | The College of Saint Rose |
| Cathy Cummings Haker | The College of Saint Rose |
| James Barber | So. Connecticut State University |
| Donna Lopiano | So. Connecticut State University |
| Amber Chandronnait | So. New Hampshire University |
| Stan Spirou | So. New Hampshire University |
As part of the anniversary celebration, Division II also will provide a commemorative scholarship opportunity for student-athletes from active member schools who exhibit the core values of Division II and have not yet exhausted their athletics eligibility. Two recipients from each conference and two representing the independent institutions will be announced in May during the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in Orlando, Florida. Nomination procedures for the scholarship will be announced to the Division II membership in January.
To learn more about Division II's 50th anniversary celebration, visit ncaa.org/dii50.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 12 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
