BY KELLY LEWIS
Over 600 students, staff, and faculty gathered at the Merkert Gymnasium on Wednesday, April 6 to celebrate the rise to Division I Athletics and the Northeast Conference (NEC).
A sea of students crowded the lobby of the College Center impatiently waiting for the doors of Merkert Gymnasium to open. Once the doors opened, students flooded into the elaborately decorated gym, purple everywhere.
At the center of the court was a stage with a podium. To the left and right of the stage, there were huge flat-screen televisions. On the way in, guests were handed free t-shirts with the Stonehill logo, NEC logo, and Division I printed on them.
The events started just a few minutes after 3 p.m. and began with a video including clips of Skyhawk athletes competing in their sports.
“Lead with courage. Three words that define what it means to be a Stonehill Skyhawk. It’s a rallying cry. To rise up and play hard. To never give up. And to compete in every game, every match, every meet with the heart of a champion. Skyhawks are guided by their strong sense of character — both in competition and in the classroom. Whose definition of success puts shared goals before individual glory. They are leaders who pour themselves into the quest to be their best. And who inspire teammates to rise to their full potential. This fall, we rise once again and lead with courage as we embark on the newest chapter in Stonehill’s proud history: Moving to Division I Athletics and the Northeast Conference. Skyhawks get ready to rise,” the narration said.
Stephen Cobbs, SGA President-Elect for the class of 2023 and a football player was the first to take the stage.
“I can’t start this speech off without thanking all the people who made this day possible, including but not limited to Father John, the board of trustees, and Dean O’Keefe,” he said.
Cobbs said that his parents always instilled gratitude in him and his siblings while growing up.
“A quote my father used to always say to me was ‘Anyone too busy to say thanks will get fewer and fewer opportunities to say it,’ “With that being said I can’t in good faith move past this day without giving thanks to the Northeast 10 Conference,” he said.
Director of Athletics Dean O’Keefe and alumni, class of 1994 spoke next.
“It’s often said that Stonehill is a hidden gem. All of us in this gym today know that Stonehill will always be a gem. But today marks an important day when through the emotion and excitement of Division I Stonehill becomes a little less hidden and a lot more visible,” O’Keefe said.
He said that our Division II accomplishments will always be a treasured part of our identity and our history.
“Division I in the Northeast Conference, here come the Skyhawks!” said O’Keefe.
O’Keefe introduced NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris onto the stage. Morris first expressed her excitement to be at Stonehill.
“My first impression is that you all know how to put on a show and I have a sense we better be ready for some high flying Skyhawks next year,” Morris said.
“When our membership committee visited Stonehill earlier this year we were overwhelmed by the beautiful campus, the tremendous facilities, but more importantly by the welcoming environment,” she said.
She said the NEC and Stonehill share the same values. She said today we celebrate the bright future between Stonehill and the Northeast Conference.
To commemorate the historic moment, Morris invited President John Denning C.S.C, Dean O’Keefe, and Vice President for Student Affairs Pauline Dobrowski on the stage to recognize them for joining the NEC and model their new gear.
The three Stonehill faculty members put on their black NEC hats and posed for a picture with Morris.
President John Denning C.S.C. gave the final speech.
“It is truly an honor and privilege to accept this invitation on behalf of Stonehill College to join the Northeast Conference,” he said.
He reflected on Stonehill's athletic team's accomplishments while competing in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
“It was just a few weeks ago that we watched our Women's Basketball team secure a win to reach the NE10 Championships for the thirteenth time in program history,” Denning said.
“This athletic season has been filled with many extraordinary moments, just to name a few. Senior forward Kayla Raymond reaching a 1,000 career points in Women’s Basketball. Led by Coach Trish Brown who netted her 400th career win,” he said
“Cross county Women's qualified for the 21st straight NCAA National Championship race this fall. In Women’s Volleyball, the Skyhawks earned its first NCAA tournament win in program history,” he said.
“There are countless stories and examples of how our student-athletes lead with zeal and courage in the classroom, in competition, and in the community and there will be many more as we make the Northeast Conference our new home,” he said.
To end the celebration, one student from each sport was selected to go up and show off their new jerseys, as confetti shot off.
One-thousand sugar cookies decorated with the NEC logo were handed to guests on the way out.
For those who were unable to attend the event, you can watch the recorded live stream here: http://necfrontrow.com/game/9632 (please note that you must fast forward to 0:50:20).
Summit photos by Kelly Lewis