Mobile Nav

Herman Williams Founders Outstanding Service Award

Endorsed by NIRSA

The Founders Outstanding Service award is named in honor of one of the Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference (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 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.

Nomination period is CLOSED.

The nomination period happens in the fall of each year.

Nomination Information

Other Information

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 candidate’s leadership qualities that promise continued progress in the future
You may optionally include a resume or biography of the candidate

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.

Award Recipients

2025-2020

2025: Kevin “KMart” Martin, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi

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

2019-2010

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

2009-2003

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

Award Namesake

Herman Williams

Co-founder of the ERSL Conference

Entry Fee & Payment Information

Nomination is free