After successfully completing a three-year candidacy period, William Jewell College (Liberty, Mo.) will become an active member of Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association effective September 1, 2012.

“This is a significant announcement for the entire Jewell community,” said Dr. Darlene Bailey, Director of Athletics at William Jewell. “The competition opportunities, fan experience and emphasis on academics through NCAA will strengthen the future of Cardinal athletics as well as enhance the overall mission of the College.”

“As an NCAA member, William Jewell will continue its rich tradition of supporting student-athletes who wish to do their best in the classroom as well as in the competitive arena,” said Dr. David Sallee, President of William Jewell. “The NCAA focus on life in the balance is an ideal match for the personal development needs of our student-athletes and aligns Jewell with other institutions with similar philosophies.”

William Jewell sponsors 20 sports and is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. In April, Jewell was named the GLVC recipient of the NCAA Division II Community Engagement Award of Excellence winner for its involvement in the Challenger Baseball Camp program in the Kansas City, Mo., area which provides opportunities for physically challenged children to participate in baseball training and competition on specially equipped fields.

With the successful completion of the membership process, the Cardinal athletic program can now devote full attention to the continued growth and success of all sports teams and take full advantage of the NCAA brand to recruit quality student-athletes to the institution. “It is our goal to field quality teams in all sports and compete for GLVC championships,” said Bailey.  

For more information, go to www.jewellcardinals.com, www.ncaa.org and www.glvcsports.com.