Week long event runs April 14 through 21, co-sponsored by Classes of 2009 and 2012, highlighted by "Rocky the Raven Fun Day" on Saturday, April 18

RINDGE, N.H. (April 13, 2009) - Franklin Pierce University's "Pierce Pride" committee is pleased to announce the beginning of "Pierce Pride Week" to run Tuesday, April 14 through Tuesday, April 21, for all home Ravens athletics events.

"Pierce Pride Week" will kickoff with Tuesday's baseball and men's lacrosse contests at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas and Sodexo Fields. The first 100 fans in attendance to the men's lacrosse match against Saint Michael's College at 4 p.m., will receive Ravens "foam fingers" sponsored by the Franklin Pierce Class of 2012.

The week continues with Franklin Pierce's final home women's lacrosse game of the season on Wednesday against Saint Anselm College at 6 p.m. The first 100 fans in attendance to this key NE-10 match up will receive Ravens mini-megaphones. The softball team will host Merrimack College for a doubleheader on Thursday, April 16, beginning at 3 p.m. The first 100 in attendance that afternoon will receive "Raven Fliers."

The highlight event of the week will be Saturday, April 18, with "Rocky the Raven Fun Day" centered around home baseball (noon doubleheader) and men's lacrosse games (1 p.m.) against Saint Anselm. A family-friendly carnival will take place in the DiGrigorio parking lot, adjacent to Dr. Pappas and Sodexo Fields, from 12-3 p.m. The carnival will feature a "bounce house," "fish fling," basketball "hot shot" contest and "speed pitch" among the activities. Joining "Rocky the Raven" at the event will be "Ribby" mascot for the Keene Swamp Bats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL). Plenty of on-field games, contests and giveaways are planned for the event as well.

"Pierce Pride Week" will conclude with Franklin Pierce's baseball game against Pace University on Tuesday, April 21, at 6:05 p.m. The night, sponsored by the Class of 2009, will feature a surprise give away. The game will also kick-off WEEI 93.5 FM Keene's coverage of select Franklin Pierce baseball games during the Ravens stretch run.

"Pierce Pride" is part of the NCAA Division II Game Environment Initiative, founded in part by Franklin Pierce University President Dr. George J. Hagerty during his tenure as Chair the Division II President's Council in 2004-2005. Game Environment is part of NCAA Division II's strategic positioning initiative, which also includes Community Engagement, to help create a positive family friendly venue for all spectators, student-athletes and officials.

More on the Division II Game Environment Initiative can be found at:
http://www.diicommunity.org/gameenvironment/index.aspx

Past "Pierce Pride" athletic events have included men's and women's basketball home openers, an ice hockey home game and WBCA PinkZone. Non-athletics events endorsed by "Pierce Pride" have been a campus presentation of "Behind the Swoosh" with the upcoming "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" on April 22 and "Relay for Life" on March 1.

"Rocky the Raven Fun Day" is part of the NCAA Division II Community Engagement initiative whose objective is bringing community to campus to experience Division II collegiate events. Through community engagement, student athletes can direct the energy and spirit of winning to positively change society. As we engage our communities, it is our hope that we provide an enjoyable experience as a result of the positive game environments that are being created for Division II events.

More information on the Division II Community Engagement initiative can be found at:

http://www.diicommunity.org/