WINONA, Minn. — Abbie Campion, Saint Mary's University's sports information director, has been selected to attend the 2026 NCAA Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program, the NCAA has announced.

The native of Janesville, Wis is in her third year working in the department at Saint Mary's. She oversees all aspects of athletic communications for the university's 17 varsity programs, including media relations, broadcasting, statistics, website content, and social media strategy.

She is just one of just 30 athletic communications professionals across the United States selected to participate in the program. 

Created in 2024, the NCAA Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program is a professional development initiative, created in partnership with D3SIDA and College Sports Communicators. The program supports the advancement of the next generation of athletics communication leaders in NCAA Division III.

Participants will engage in a series of interactive leadership sessions, team-management and collaboration exercises on the evolving landscape of athletics communication. The experience also includes in-person networking, skill-building workshops, and a complimentary one-time registration to the College Sports Communicators Convention the following June.

"I am so honored to be nominated and selected to be a part of this prestigious program," said Campion. "I'm so excited to represent Saint Mary's on the national stage, I'm also looking forward to furthering my professional development and networking with so many other wonderful people across the Division III realm."

A communications and media studies major, Campion started her journey into the Athletic Communications field at her alma mater, UW-Stevens Point, where she was introduced to the career path while working under the assistant athletic director for media relations, Tim Bohn, for all four years. 

"I am so blessed to have the opportunity and have the amazing support from the Saint Mary's athletics department, who have been nothing but supportive of me."

The 2026 NCAA Division III Athletic Communicators Emerging Elite Program is scheduled to take place December 6-8 at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis.