PELLA — Central College is helping recognize Division III Week through Saturday of this week.

The annual recognition is part of the NCAA Division III identity initiative which seeks to raise the public profile of Division III institutions as places where student-athletes can "follow your passions and develop your potential."

Best of both worlds — Alier Agau (sophomore, Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) did not want to limit what he could get from his college experience and Central enabled him to do it all.

"I've always known what I wanted study going through high school," he said. "As I got better at basketball and track and field I wanted to see if I could continue either of those in college. Central, as a Division III member, gave me the opportunity to study engineering while being a dual-sport athlete allowing me to succeed both academically and athletically."

Focusing on academics, as well as athletics is what motivated women's tennis sophomore Emma Murphy (Liberty, Mo.) to choose the Division III path at Central as she competes on the court while she works towards a degree in elementary education.

"I have always wanted to be a teacher, so when I was looking at schools, I wanted to prepare for who I wanted to be after college, and Central has prepared me for that, while also being able to participate on the tennis team." Murphy said. "Division III is student centered, and we focus on our education whole also taking pride in our athletics."

Central a Division III pioneer—Central's late president Kenneth J. Weller authored the first Division III philosophy statement, which advocated that the focus of intercollegiate athletics should be on benefits for the participant rather than the spectator, and that student-athletes be treated no differently than students involved in other cocurricular activities.  He was called a "founding father" of Division III by The Intercollegiate Athletic Forum in 1996.

Weller was instrumental in the incorporation of women into the NCAA in the early 1980s and Central won the first women's national championship ever staged by the NCAA, taking the Division III women's cross country title in 1981. The Dutch have captured 11 NCAA national team championships overall, winning titles in six sports, starting with the 1974 Division III football title.

Prior to coming to Central, Weller was an economics professor and coach at Hope College (Mich.) and spent a lot of time thinking about the role of athletics within higher education.

"I grew to appreciate the role of athletics as complementary to academics, not a detriment," Weller said.

Central president Mark Putnam embraces the college's role as a Division III leader.

 "Central is deeply rooted in Division III," Putnam said. "The college has provided leadership within Division III throughout its history, starting with Ken Weller, who was an integral part of Division III's formation, to hall of fame football coach Ron Schipper. Our former dean of students, Marjorie Giles, who was the first female president of the Iowa Conference, also served on the NCAA Council, and many others have led as well.

"We join hundreds of other institutions in celebrating Division III as a place where students truly can follow their passions, participating in nationally competitive athletics programs without sacrificing opportunities to immerse themselves in rigorous academic pursuits, participate in transformative study abroad experiences or pursue any number of other cocurricular activities which offer potential for growth and development."
           
Division III is the NCAA's largest division, with 422 active members representing 42 conferences. Approximately 80 percent are private institutions and the schools are diverse, with enrollment ranging from 300 to 30,000. The average Division III School enrolls 2,535 students. Division III stages championships in 28 sports. Central offers 19 of those and more than half of the college's students participate in athletics during their undergraduate careers.
           
More than 210,000 student-athletes compete in Division III, about 38 percent of all those in the NCAA.