INDIANAPOLIS – Illinois Wesleyan University men's cross country and track and field alumnus, JD Barrett (Tuscola, Ill.-Tuscola) has been named a nominee for the 2023 NCAA Division III LGBTQ Student-Athlete of the Year award Friday, Sept. 1. He is one of seven final nominees for the accolade.

This award honors the academic achievements, athletic excellence, and service/leadership of LGBTQ student-athletes in Division III.  Nominees are chosen for their efforts and dedication to promoting and advocating for an LGBTQ-inclusive athletics department, campus and community within a DIII institution.

Barrett, a 2023 graduate with a degree in business administration and an advocacy minor, was an asset to Titan athletics on and off the race course. Beginning in 2020, Barrett helped with the construction and recruitment of a program on Illinois Wesleyan's campus that gave LGBTQ athletes a prominent voice within the athletic department and the overall campus. Barrett says his goal for this program is to have more LGBTQ athletes feel that they are not alone in any struggle they face, and know that they have a support system on campus.

Additionally, Barrett also served in leadership roles such as Student Senate Vice President for the 2022-2023 school year and the Student Liaison for the Town of Normal, Ill. in 2021-2022. In his role as vice president, Barrett developed and passed a sweeping mental health resolution for the campus community that included education and programming needs for the greater campus community on how to be a stellar ally and a greater priority in expanding campus counseling services. 

As the Illinois Wesleyan Student Liaison, Barrett served on the "Town & Gown" committee alongside two Illinois State University students. Barrett advocated for a greater civic outreach program for college-aged students and a greater effort to make Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives prominent in the upcoming municipal budget. 

Barrett was voted the cross country team's MVP in 2021 and 2022 and was recognized as an academic all-conference recipient for three consecutive seasons. On the track, Barrett was an All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) honoree in the 2021 10,000-meter run while achieving academic all-conference honors for three seasons. 

The award recipients will be announced and publicly recognized Thursday, Jan. 11, in conjunction with the 2024 NCAA Convention in Phoenix.

Final Nominees for the Student-Athlete of the Year Award:
J.D. Barrett – Cross Country, Illinois Wesleyan University
Lucas Draper – Swimming and Diving, Oberlin College
Lukas Gates – Volleyball, Sarah Lawrence College
James Kyle – Swimming and Diving, Carnegie Mellon University
Brianna Lawless –Track and Field, State University of New York at Brockport
Anna Slominski – Swimming and Diving, Illinois Institute of Technology. 
Rogelio Pena – Tennis, Concordia University (Texas)   

Final Nominees for the Administrator/Coach/Staff of the Year Award:
Andrew Brown – Head Women's Volleyball Coach, New York University
Kaylie McHugh – Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach, University of Texas at Dallas
Danielle O'Leary – Associate Director of Athletics, William Peace University
Juliet Suess – Head Swimming and Diving Coach, Chapman University

Final Nominees for the Athletics Department/Conference of the Year Award: 
Oberlin College. Sul Ross State University. University of California, Santa Cruz.