The NIRSA Outstanding Facilities Awards Committee is excited to announce that the application period for annual awards is now open! The deadline to submit an application is Monday, November 16.
Each year, the committee has the privilege of reviewing and awarding projects completed by institutions of all sizes. Projects can vary from new construction projects to expansions or renovations. Recipient institutions are nationally recognized and awarded a plaque to commemorate their achievement. Winning facilities are considered a standard by which other collegiate recreational facilities should be measured, and from which others can benefit.
Receiving this award has had a considerable impact on recipient institutions. Daniel Lawrence, Director of Campus Recreation at Utah State University, says, “The honor of receiving a 2017 Outstanding Facilities Award for the Utah State University Aggie Recreation Center has truly helped put USU on the NIRSA map. We feel it has helped provide USU the opportunity to recruit students and top candidates for our full-time and graduate assistant positions. This recognition also created the opportunity for colleagues from around the country to visit the Aggie Recreation Center during the planning phase for their new facility.”
Brad Wallace, Associate Director of Athletics at Grand Valley State University, shares that “the award helped validate all the hard work that went into planning, design, and implementation.” The GVSU Recreation Center received a 2018 Outstanding Facilities Award. “Our university and non-university partners that made our addition possible were very appreciative of the award.” He also notes, “We appreciate NIRSA for taking the time to recognize all of these outstanding facilities while also providing the opportunity to showcase our campuses.”
“I would say winning a 2019 Outstanding Facility Award provided validation for our departments and university as a whole,” adds Steve Stocker, Director of Campus Recreation at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. “It helped to solidify what we believed to be true: That we had collectively designed and constructed a state-of-the-art facility for our students, faculty-staff, and community that supported their educational and recreational pursuits.” He goes on to say, “We are certainly proud of the facility, and winning the award helped us share our pride with the rest of the country and beyond. The facility is a multi-use facility, so it has positively impacted our Health and Human Performance Department, Athletics, and Campus Recreation in many ways. As a former recipient of the award, we were honored to win and grateful to NIRSA for showcasing excellence. Our plaque I displayed proudly in the lobby of the facility and challenges us each day to provide excellence.”
If your facility is eligible, we strongly encourage you to apply! This award is a fantastic way to acknowledge and show appreciation for the hard work your school and architectural team has put in. The November 16 deadline will be here before you know it, so submit your application today!
For more information, please contact NIRSA Member Relations Manager Sarah Leskovec.
Chris Crume is currently the Director of Aquatic Center at Denison University. He serves as co-chair of NIRSA’s Government Affairs Committee; he can be reached by email at ccrume@hotmail.com.
Craig Boegner is currently Assistant Director of Facility Operations & Risk Management at Utah State University. He serves on the NIRSA Facilities Awards Committee.
Clay Heinley is Recreation Operations Coordinator at Austin Peay State University. He serves on the NIRSA Facilities Awards Committee.
