The Worcester State University athletics department will be hosting an ice cream social on Tuesday, April 24 at 4:30 PM in between the softball and baseball field at Rockwood Park. The event is apart of NCAA Division III Week, which was officially held on April 9-15.

Division III Week is the first nationwide celebration of the division's 180,000 student-athletes, their academic achievements, leadership, community service and campus involvement.

Below are some other Division III facts that you might not be aware of:

• Did you know that, on the average, about one-fifth of students enrolled at NCAA Division III member schools participate in varsity athletics? Here at Worcester State roughly 1:10 undergraduates are student-athletes.

• Division III is NCAA's largest division with 442 members who comprise 43 different conferences.

• In a recent Division III student-athletes report, it was found that student-athletes participating in club and intramural sports than non-athletes. Female student-athletes also reported in greater numbers than female non-athletes that they had served as a leader in an organization.

• In the same study, Division III student-athletes reported active academic engagement and participation in academic "extras" such as research with faculty, study abroad opportunities and capstone/senior thesis projects.

• Division III student-athletes report significantly greater gains in time management when compared with non-athletes. Male student-athletes also report significant greater gains in leadership when compared with male non-athletes.

• Lastly, Division III student-athletes report greater involvement in volunteering. They also are more likely to report "leadership potential" as an important consideration in choosing a career.

For more information about Division III where you can Discover your potential, Develop your skills on the field and in the classroom, and Dedicate yourself to a sport, check out NCAA.org.