INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The University of Central Missouri's "Get the Red Out" street fair and "Military Appreciation Day" for the Mules home-opening football game against Northwest Missouri State University on Sept. 8 was chosen as the NCAA Division II Game-Environment Award winner for 2012.

Attended by an estimated crowd of 5,000 people, the annual street fair brought together Warrensburg area merchants, Central Missouri students and community members for a festive time leading up to the football game. The "Get the Red Out" street fair was coupled with "Military Appreciation Day" presented by the Missouri National Guard. Pregame ceremonies included recognition of military heroes with a flyover by a Missouri National Guard Apache helicopter. Also, representatives from the Missouri National Guard and nearby Whiteman Air Force Base participated in the pregame coin toss. This took place as military personnel were admitted to the game free of charge, using the new UCM Command Pass, honoring those who serve their country and celebrating the close relationship Central Missouri has with Whiteman.

The pregame festivities also included a ceremony honoring Division II's sponsorship of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and supporting Charly Erpelding, a Wish Kid with connections to both Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri.

"The Game Environment Award was created by Division II as way to communicate clearly the DII strategic positioning platform and the value of community engagement to the Division II experience," said UCM President Chuck Ambrose. "The community engagement and game environment initiatives underline the truly unique and distinctive qualities that help people 'Choose Division II'. The level of engagement by our community on a day that included 'Get the Red Out,' 'Military Appreciation,' and, Mules and Bearcats for Charly is truly extraordinary and a day that also underlines the unique and distinctive characteristics of UCM.”

Ambrose added, “Game environment is a cumulative effect of positive community engagement and for all of this that make these days possible we would simply like to express our appreciation. This recognition on a national level would not be possible without you!"

For the complete NCAA release, click here