Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Receives NCAA Choices Grant
8/15/2011 8:00:00 AM | General
Aug. 15, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell University has received an NCAA CHOICES grant, which will be earmarked toward a student-led pilot program that will engage student-athletes and others in providing education on alcohol abuse and alternative programming on campus. The $30,000 grant, distributed over the course of the next three academic years, will help Bucknell launch the "Raise Your Voices, Make Good Choices" initiative.
In an effort to educate students about the risks involved with the misuse of alcohol, the NCAA has, through the support of the NCAA Foundation and Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., developed CHOICES, a grant program for alcohol education. Through the CHOICES program, the NCAA provides funding for NCAA member institutions and conferences to integrate athletics into campus-wide efforts to reduce alcohol abuse. CHOICES projects must partner athletics with other campus colleagues in the development and implementation of effective alcohol-education projects.
Under the direction of Hannah Roberts, Bucknell staff psychologist specializing in alcohol and drug programming, associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator Maisha Palmer and the Bucknell women's volleyball program, the "Raise Your Voices, Make Good Choices" program is aimed at increasing student engagement and developing student leaders on the topic of healthy behaviors related to alcohol consumption. A "Student Voices" committee consisting of one representative from each Bison varsity athletic team will be formed in the Fall of 2011 with the intention of planning alcohol-free events, providing alcohol education and ultimately forming a peer group that would be trained in such areas as bystander intervention.
"The Bucknell Office of Student Affairs is happy to have partnered with Bison Athletics to secure this NCAA CHOICES grant," said Bucknell Dean of Students Susan Little Lantz. "The funding will allow for much-needed student-driven programming that offers safe alternatives to drinking. In addition, our student-athlete leaders are a wonderful resource to assist in increasing education on Bucknell's campus. The reduction of high-risk drinking is a goal shared by all."
"Student-athletes comprise about 20 percent of Bucknell's undergraduate enrollment, and as such they carry a strong voice on campus," said director of athletics and recreation John Hardt. "The Department of Athletics and Recreation regards the welfare and education of our student-athletes as a top priority. I am extremely excited that the NCAA CHOICES funding is going to allow Bison student-athletes to assume a campus-wide leadership position in the vitally important area of alcohol awareness."
Bucknell sponsors 27 intercollegiate sports at the Division I level. It is a charter member of the Patriot League and has won the league's all-sports championship in 17 of the 21 years it has been contested, including 2010-11. Bucknell ranks fifth in Division I in producing Academic All-Americans and annually ranks among the national leaders in the graduation rate of its student-athletes.
