DII Day is an opportunity for all individuals associated with Division II to celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on their campus and community. After the success of the 2022 DII Day, this is an annual celebration for Division II and its membership.

DII Day will be celebrated on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 (2/22/23).

The DII Day initiative is a great opportunity for student-athletes, coaches, alumni, fans and athletics administrators to connect with their communities through community engagement and show that the passionate support goes both ways. The goal is for DII Day to build a greater awareness and understanding of Division II athletics.

All individuals associated with Division II are encouraged to celebrate DII Day. Student-athletes, coaches, administrators, alumni and many more individuals can discuss how they make their DII experience theirs. 

• The Division II brand is Make It Yours. IUP student-athletes have the opportunity to make the Division II experience their own. Through the division’s "Life in the Balance" philosophy,  student-athletes can excel in the classroom, on the playing field and in the community, while enjoying all IUP has to offer.   
• Division II has 296 active member institutions, 23 conferences and nearly 120,000 student-athletes! Division II schools are located in 47 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as the District of Columbia. Division II also features the NCAA’s only international member in Simon Fraser University in Canada and has three schools in Puerto Rico (Bayamon, Mayaguez and Rio Piedras).
• Division II conducts 25 national championships and offers the highest championship access ratio in the NCAA. Division II is the only NCAA division that conducts National Championships Festivals, which are Olympic-style events in which several national championships are held at a location over a period of several days. In December 2022, the division held the latest National Championships Fall Festival in Seattle, Washington.
• During the 2021-22 academic year, Division II schools raised over $185,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Since the national Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee began the division’s partnership in 2003, the division has raised over $6.75 million for the foundation. Those funds have been used to grant more than 780 wishes for children around the country who face life-threatening medical conditions.

• What do you enjoy about Division II? Being a Division II athlete gives me the opportunity to enjoy the experience of being a student-athlete without the concern of high expectations within my sport, nor fully being consumed in it. While I do want to compete as a track and field athlete at the highest caliber, there’s no pressure to be the top athlete and hit certain marks that you may see at other levels. There’s an understanding by the coaches and athletic administration at IUP that you are here to succeed academically just as much athletically. There is a lot of personal and academic support, and that is one of the primary focuses at the Division II level. 
• How do you embrace the Division II “Life in the Balance” mantra? Once I first became a freshman at IUP August of 2019, I made it a mission to become involved around campus in several activities outside of just athletics, and it truly did make my college experience worthwhile and enriching. Outside of the men’s track and field team, I am a part of Sigma Chi Fraternity, and IUP Ambassadors. These organizations introduced me to a diverse, supportive group of people who care for the well-being of the school and community. From organizing philanthropy events to helping in local neighborhood cleanups, my organizations outside of track and field helped me become closer with the IUP community and realize that the undergraduate experience should be full of opportunities found in more than just one group or place. 
• What makes IUP unique within Division II? IUP’s support for athletes is top-notch and apparent across campus. Despite being Division II, IUP shows a Division I level of support for its athletes, whether it be promoting a big game for one of our sports teams, highlighting athletic accomplishments in online articles or making our media days as professional as possible. IUP is an all-around strong athletic department too, with a level of talent that allows the school to compete at a national level. 
• What are two things you love about your Division II experience? For starters, I love my coaches. They are such great mentors and I have become very close to them. They are always there for me, whether it be for academic, athletic or personal guidance. Another thing I love is the pride of being a Crimson Hawk! To compete at the collegiate level is a big accomplishment, and to be a Division II athlete for IUP is something all of us athletes should be proud of, considering how competitive the PSAC is and how well we hold our own in the conference, no matter the sport.

• What do you enjoy about Division II? I love DII because I have the resources and opportunity to compete at a high level while creating a successful future for myself.
• How do you embrace the Division II “Life in the Balance” mantra? Embracing the division's philosophy has allowed me to excel in the classroom and earn my undergraduate and graduate degree, become involved in organizations such as being SAAC president, and hold a part time job while still succeeding in the sport I love.
• What makes IUP unique within Division II? IUP is unique because it has a large campus feel with the individualized benefits of a small school. 
• What are two things you love about your Division II experience? I have loved my DII experience because I feel part of a family that supports each other and is striving for more than success in athletics.

• What do you enjoy about Division II? My favorite part of being a Division II  student-athlete is that I can compete on a high level collegiate team, while still having a college experience as a student and a person.
• How do you embrace the Division II “Life in the Balance” mantra? Getting involved in the university and the campus community are so important because they shape us as student-athletes and as people. These experiences help create connections for the future. I also enjoy attending and supporting other teams at athletic events at IUP, and attend holistic health club meetings when I can.
• What makes IUP unique within Division II? IUP stands out in Division II athletics because of the high level of competition, along with the amazing coaches and department staff. There's so much support for athletes here.
• What are two things you love about your Division II experience? I love the relationships and connections I’ve made here at IUP that will last a lifetime. I also appreciate the amount of positive growth that I and so many others have experienced here.