KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association is excited to announce a new conference-wide partnership with Chi Alpha Sigma.

Founded in 1996, Chi Alpha Sigma is a national collegiate athlete honor society that shares the conference’s dedication to recognizing and celebrating the achievements of student-athletes competing at four-year institutions. With just under 400 chapters in 44 states, Chi Alpha Sigma is the first and only nonprofit organization to recognize both the academic and athletic accolades and achievements of four-year undergraduate student-athletes.

"Chi Alpha Sigma is excited to welcome the MIAA as our first NCAA Division II conference partner,” said Executive Director of Chi Alpha Sigma Kellen Wells-Mangold. “The MIAA's success in athletics competition is well known, but they also have tremendous successes in the classroom. We look forward to working with the MIAA institutional members and conference office to highlight and celebrate those academic achievements."

Membership in local chapters is an honor bestowed upon selected student-athletes. Selection for membership is determined by an athletics department designee in consultation with the individual's head coach. Eligible student-athletes must participate in a varsity intercollegiate sport, complete at least four full-time semesters, and have a grade point average of 3.50 or higher.

Additionally, Chi Alpha Sigma offers a postgraduate scholarship and internship opportunities to student-athletes who have been inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, recognizes/awards one male and one female student-athlete as the National Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and provides career development opportunities for female Chi Alpha Sigma inductees interested in pursuing a career as a coach or administrator in sports via a partnership with Women Leaders In Sports.

"The MIAA has long been recognized as a conference where student-athletes succeed in competition and also the classroom,” stated MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy. “Becoming the first NCAA Division II Conference to partner with Chi Alpha Sigma's National College Athlete Honor Society allows the conference office to support and celebrate the high achieving student-athletes on our campuses."

To view every Chi Alpha Sigma chapter and find more information on the organization, visit chialphasigma.org.