Skyhawks Soar to Division I

Dear Members of the Stonehill Community,

I write to share the exciting news that Stonehill College recently accepted an invitation from the Northeast Conference's (NEC) Council of Presidents to join its NCAA Division I conference. 

As we approach Stonehill College’s 75th anniversary, this wonderful opportunity aligns well with the institution’s strategic goals of enhancing the student experience, increasing demand for a Stonehill College education, and strengthening the institution’s visibility regionally and nationally. 

This historic move is built on years of forging a strong reputation and infrastructure—both academically and athletically. From investing in new athletic programs to developing innovative undergraduate and graduate programs to creating state-of-the-art facilities, this transformative change supports the whole College as we continue thriving in the classroom, in competition, and in the community.

This athletic season has been a memorable year for the College. The women’s basketball team reached the NE10 Championship for the 13th time in program history. Our student-athletes received the NCAA Division II Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence honoring institutions with an Academic Success Rate of at least 90 percent. Our athletic program’s positive influence has also extended well beyond the campus, as exemplified by our recent Team IMPACT partnership, a program dedicated to serving children facing serious illness through student-athlete mentorship. These are just a few stories that represent how our student-athletes and coaches demonstrate leadership and resiliency. Our community will continue to build on these past successes and unlock their future potential as we embark on this new journey together. 

The NEC Commissioner, our athletic staff and our student-athletes recently joined together for a campus celebration at the Merkert Gymnasium, which you can view here.

I wish to express my gratitude to many within our community, especially our athletic staff and students, senior leaders, and the Board of Trustees for their guidance, support and diligence throughout this process. I am also thankful to everyone who made gifts to our To Be Bold campaign which will help fund many of these new initiatives that help drive interest in a Stonehill education. In addition, I share my deep appreciation to my colleagues in the Northeast-10 Conference who have shared their athletic home with us since its inception. 

Thank you to our students, coaches, faculty, staff, alumni, and all of Skyhawk Nation for helping Stonehill College soar to new heights academically and athletically starting this fall. Go Skyhawks!

Sincerely,

(Rev.) John Denning, C.S.C.

President