INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Out of 429 Division III institutions, Occidental College Athletics was selected as the recipient of the 2026 NCAA and Minority Opportunities Athletic Associations (MOAA) Award for Opportunities and Impact on Thursday, February 26.
 
The award recognizes and celebrates the initiatives, programs, and efforts of athletics departments and conference offices in Divisions I, II and III that embrace environments of belonging and well-being and elevate the student-athlete voice in intercollegiate athletics communities.
 
Occidental Athletics is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of its student athletes. The Tigers justice, equity, diversity and inclusion programming (JEDI) allows its athletes and administrators to have meaningful dialogue to build a collaborative, responsible and respectful athletic culture.
 
Assistant Athletic Director for Operations & Facilities and Coordinator of JEDI Programming, Cori Vallembois spearheads JEDI's efforts across the department.
 
"This recognition reflects the steady, intentional work our department has done to create an environment where our student-athletes feel heard, supported, and valued for exactly who they are," Vallembois said. "This honor belongs to the student-athletes – past and present – who serve/have served on our JEDI Committee and continue to lead with honesty, courage, and care for one another. Their willingness to engage in meaningful conversations and lean into difficult moments is what continues to shape the culture of Oxy Athletics."
 
Along with the Tigers' commitment to JEDI, Oxy's guiding principle of 'One Tiger, Many Stripes' is recognized across the department and its programs, uniting the community's differences.
 
The department, led by Director of Athletics Shanda Ness has made it a group effort, with the goal of making a difference for the Tigers' student athletes.
 
"This honor belongs to the entire Oxy Athletics team that is deeply committed to making a difference and creating an athletic department that is inclusive and supportive of all student- athletes," Ness said. "Cori has done a great job of providing intentional opportunities for our staff and student-athletes to continue to grow in this area. I am proud of the work we have done and look forward to what comes next."
 
NCAA and MOAA representatives will present the awards June 7-10 in Las Vegas during the MOAA Symposium.
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Follow @oxyathletics on Instagram. All games can be streamed live on FloCollege.com. To follow the Tigers live all season long and for the most up to date information, visit oxyathletics.com.