KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The University of Central Missouri's "Get the Red Out" street fair and "Military Appreciation Day" for the Mules 2012 home-opening football game against Northwest Missouri State University on Sept. 8 was awarded the MIAA Game Environment Award of Excellence on Thursday night at the MIAA Awards Ceremony at the Kansas City Public Library - Plaza Branch.

It was already chosen as the NCAA Division II Game-Environment Award winner for 2012 earlier this fall.

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 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.