The Founders Outstanding Service award is named in honor of one of the Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders (ERSL) founders, Herman Williams, who made extraordinary contributions in advancing innovative strategies to improve opportunities for minorities in campus recreation.
The Herman Williams Founders Outstanding Service Award, endorsed by NIRSA, was developed in the Fall of 2002 to recognize the contributions that an individual has made to the Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference and minorities in the field of collegiate recreation.
Nominations & Applications
Award recipients are selected in January for the calendar year. Nominations and applications should be brief and should include the following information:
- Description of the activities or innovations (either completed or underway) and their potential for fostering substantive and sustained improvement to the Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference and minorities in the field of collegiate recreation
- Description of the role of the candidate in this activity, the roles of others through collaborative efforts and the candidates leadership qualities that promise continued progress in the future
- A resume or biography of the candidate
The nomination period has ended.
Eligibility & Selection Criteria
The Herman Williams Founders Outstanding Service Award is jointly administered by the Emerging Recreational Sports Leadership planning committee, the Emerging Recreational Sports Advisory Board, and past award recipients.
Candidates should demonstrate innovative leadership qualities that have improved the Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders (ERSL) Conference and minorities in the field of collegiate recreation, yet be at a stage in their careers that they still can and will make significant contributions in the future. This award is meant to encourage and support those seeking sustained improvements for minorities in the field of collegiate recreation.
In addition, candidates should demonstrate, through implemented activities, innovative leadership qualities that have been central to the achievement of substantial improvements of minorities in the field of collegiate recreation.
These improvements should benefit students by enhancing opportunities for learning, and wherever possible, should lead to more effective use of resources.
The actions described should involve the cooperation and collaboration of additional individuals and/or organizations.
These accomplishments should further the overall purposes of the award.
Previous Recipients
2024
Candice Douglas
Western Kentucky University
2023
Dexter Shorter
Pennsylvania State University
2022
Calvin Diggs
St. Cloud State University
2021
Mirum Washington-White
St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic School
2020
Jocelyn Hill
American University
2019
Dr. Kevin Marbury
University of Oregon
2018
David Davenport
Austin Peay State University
2017
Kacy Toberg
Georgia State University
2016
Jackie McCarty
University of California-Davis
2015
Seneca Wilson
Syracuse University
2014
Demond Pryor
Central Michigan University
2013
Edmond “Chris” McGee
University of Southern Mississippi
2012
Stan Shingles
Central Michigan University
2011
Tony Daniels
University of Texas at San Antonio
2010
Lee Wasson
2009
No award given
2008
Sev-Ira Brown
Syracuse University
2007
Kenny Hill
The Ohio State University
2006
No award given
2005
No award given
2004
J. Michael Dunn
The Ohio State University
2003
Sam Vaughan
North Carolina Central University
For More Info
For more information, please contact the Co-Chair of the Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference, D.J. Preston.