Division II Award of Excellence Finalists
 
INDIANAPOLIS – Oredigger graduate student and Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball point guard Josephine Howery was a part of the NCAA's 2025 Division II Award of Excellence finalists which were announced early last month.
 
The NCAA Division II Award of Excellence is an accolade which recognizes initiatives each year that exemplify the DII philosophy, community engagement, and student-athlete leadership. Howery's recognition comes thanks to her involvement with a non-profit organization called Crossover for Change. Her nomination was put forward by the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and was one of 22 schools and four conferences selected as a finalist. Howery's involvement was also featured on the RMAC's podcast called, The Sidelines.  Each finalist received $750. In addition, the winner received $3,000, the first runner-up received $1,750 and the second runner-up received $1,500. All prize money goes toward future SAAC initiatives or community engagement events.
 
Howery serves as Co-Chair of the Executive Board of Officers at Crossover for Change, whose mission is fostering confidence, empowerment, and leadership for young women in Uganda through the sport of basketball. Howery started the non-profit with a group of high school friends in 2020. In her role, Howery eventually enlisted the help of her Mines teammates to host local basketball camps and 5K races stateside to contribute to the organization's efforts. Some of those efforts include building basketball courts, holding sports camps, and conducting virtual sessions on confidence, nutrition, and career goals. So far, Howery and the organization have helped build three basketball courts and have traveled to Uganda to run camps on the same courts. Crossover for Change's newest project is fundraising for a computer lab at a school in Uganda.
 
Division II honors its members each year for conducting events that promote student-athletes giving back and serving as leaders within their communities or on their campuses. A committee of athletics administrators determined this year's finalists, and the national Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee selected the top three finalists, who will were announced at the Division II business session on Jan. 17 at the 2025 NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines women's basketball on "X" (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook at @MinesWBB. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, "X" and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.