General | 9/16/2026 11:00:00 AM
The Empire 8 is proud to announce the creation of a new feature series for the 2026-27 season, which will run on Fridays through December. The Empire 8 "What Drives Me" series will kick off on Sept. 18.
The Empire 8 Emerging Leaders series will feature student-athletes from all 12 full-time member institutions. The selected student-athlete wil discuss what motivates them and the impact the being a student-athlete in the Empire 8 has had on them as they work towards their goals for life after college.
"The Empire 8 'What Drives Me' series continues to showcase our league's continued focus on leadership and enthusiasm for Division III athletics," said Empire 8 Senior Associate Commissioner Joe Venniro. "We are proud to feature several passionate student-athletes throughout the year who have evolved into emerging leaders on and off the field. Our student-athletes represent the very best of our institutions and will serve as leaders well after their collegiate careers."
The What Drives Me series will be featured on the conference's website and social media platforms through December. The conference will also be using the #WhatDrivesMe #LeadersCompeteHere and #WhyD3 hashtags on its X and Instagrams platforms as a way for fans to follow along with the series.