In January of 2010, NCAA Division III announced a new identity branding initiative, summing up its position and mission for collegiate athletics with three key themes: Discover, Develop and Dedicate. To kick off Division III Week at Linfield, we used those integral keywords to provide a snapshot of the intercollegiate athletic experience for Wildcat student-athletes.

Discover: Linfield’s rich athletic history
Together with members of the Northwest Conference, Linfield made the transition from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to the National Collegiate Athletics Association in the late 1990s, with 1998-99 serving as its first year as a full-fledged member of Division III competition.

Since making the transition, Linfield has won three national team championships, and three Wildcats have combined for four individual titles in track & field:

• 2001 Amber Larsen – 400-meter hurdles
• 2004 Football
• 2007 Softball
• 2009 Josh  Lovell – decathlon
• 2011 Softball
• 2012 Catherine  Street – indoor & outdoor pole vault

Linfield Athletics: By The Numbers

• More than 30 percent of Linfield students participate in intercollegiate athletics, which amounts to approximately 450 student-athletes
• Linfield sponsors nine men’s programs: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis and track & field…
• ...and 10 women’s programs: basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field and volleyball

Develop: Linfield’s athletes are students first
More than half of Linfield graduates study abroad during their college years. As Division III student-athletes, Wildcats are encouraged just as equally as their peers to take advantage of opportunities to experience other cultures first hand. During the 2012-13 academic year, the following 22 student-athletes participated or are currently participating in a study abroad program:

• Cody  Agee, football: China, Spring 2013
• Katherine  Allison, tennis: France (Aix), Fall 2012
• Moniqa  Beatty, swimming: Japan, Fall 2012
• Caroline  Brigham, tennis: Costa Rica, January 2013
• Katy  Brosig, softball: Costa Rica, Fall 2012
• Zane  Carey, soccer: Australia, Spring 2013
• Robin  Cone-Murakami, volleyball: Ecuador (Galapagos), Spring 2013
• Shayli  Coppock, volleyball: France/Italy, January 2013
• Ashley  Garcia, softball: Costa Rica, Fall 2012
• Joe  Gladow, cross country/track: Ecuador (Quito), Spring 2013
• Trevor  Gomez, football: Australia, January 2013
• Kara  Grant, soccer: Australia, January 2013
• Jason  Hight, cross country/track: Japan/China, January 2013
• Geoff  Kunita, soccer: Costa Rica, January 2013
• Meghan  Lockwood, track: France/Italy, January 2013
• Kelsey  Ludin, volleyball: Costa Rica, January 2013
• Nick  Rhoten, football: France/Italy, January 2013
• Mimi  Seeley, cross country/track: Ireland, Spring 2013
• Katy  Shewmaker, volleyball: Australia, Spring 2013
• Alexandria  Smith, golf: Australia, January 2013
• Katie  Skinner, cross country/track: Ireland, Spring 2013
• Reid  Sullivan, football: Costa Rica, January 2013

Dedicate: Clarifying the “Division III doesn’t offer scholarships” myth
It’s true; Division III institutions cannot award financial aid or incentive based on athletic performance. Without the obligation of an athletics scholarship, student-athletes can emphasize academics, athletics and other opportunities of the collegiate experience according to their individual passions and priorities.

However, approximately 90 percent of Linfield students receive some form of assistance based on financial need or academic merit, and student-athletes have equal opportunity and access to financial assistance as the general student population. In addition to grants and scholarships, federal work-study and other campus employment positions provide opportunities for students to earn a portion of their educational expenses while gaining practical workplace experience.