After 47 percent of the total votes, the Kalamazoo College Athletic Leadership Council won the September Special Olympics Spotlight Poll, hosted by the NCAA. The Hornets received 645 of a total of 1,349 votes to win the poll; Kalamazoo will receive $500 to use for its next Special Olympics event. 

It marks the second time since 2016 Kalamazoo was the winner of the NCAA online poll. Each month, the NCAA sponsors an online poll to highlight and recognize NCAA Division III's nationwide partnership with Special Olympics.

In May, Kalamaoo partnered with Michigan Area 16 Special Olympics to host the Area's annual Special Olympics track meet. Over 100 Special Olympics athletes came out to Parchment High School's track to compete in a variety of track and field events as well as bocce ball competitions. Student-athletes and coaches from five different Hornet teams helped to ensure the event ran smoothly, recording times and differences from events and organizing awards for the participants.

To learn more about the NCAA's partnership with Special Olympics, visit www.ncaa.org.

Information provided by Kalamazoo College and NCAA.