Celebrating mentors
The Horace Moody Awards are given to one NIRSA professional member from each of the seven NIRSA regions to recognize their contributions to student development.
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Horace Moody Award
Nomination period is CLOSED.
The nomination period happens in the fall of each year.
Nomination information
Other Information
We all get our start as students in collegiate recreation somewhere; many of us have been fortunate enough to have the path to student success clearly defined by an exceptional NIRSA mentor.
Their encouragement, support, and commitment to excellence have made our educational pursuits exciting and rewarding. Honor an outstanding professional who has made significant contributions to your student development by nominating them for a NIRSA Horace Moody Award. Awards will be conferred on individuals who have made a lasting difference in mentoring students and guiding students in their professional development.
Each year award recipients are recognized through a variety of mediums, including press releases, social media, and various digital displays and announcements at conferences throughout the year. Each nominee will also receive a letter of notification regarding nomination for this award, ensuring that all nominees are recognized for their outstanding service.
Eligibility
Selection Criteria
Exceptional nominees should have contributed to student mentorship in one or more of the following ways during the past year:
Award Recipients
2025
Region I: Kelly K. Shorter, Penn State University
Region II: Kari DiDonato, Florida State University
Region III: Kyle A. Osburn, University of Notre Dame
Region IV: John Merryman, Sam Houston State University
Region V: TJ Hill, Colorado State University – Fort Collins
Region VI: Zachary Wallace, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Canadian Region: Marc Iturriaga, Mohawk College
2024
Region I: Andrew Havrisko, Rowan University
Region II: Caroline Ciell Richman, University of Florida
Region III: Drew Loso, M.S., University of Notre Dame
Region IV: Daniel Fragel, Oklahoma State University
Region V: Calvin Diggs, M.Ed., St. Cloud State University
Region VI: Elizabeth Seal, M.A., University of California Berkeley
Canadian Region: Megan Locker, Brock University
2023
Region I: Dan Bennett, Princeton University
Region II: Jenny Larson, Elon University
Region III: Savon Williams, University of Notre Dame
Region IV: Kasey Gonzalez, Trinity University
Region V: Jeremy McKendall, University of Wyoming
Region VI: Ben Burnham, Boise State University
Canadian Region: Bjorn Billehaug, Mount Royal University
2022
Region I: Mary Kate S. Crawford, University of Maryland
Region II: Chris R. Jones, James Madison University
Region III: Matthew Altendorf, Ohio State University
Region IV: Joseph R. Secrest, University of Houston
Region V: Greg Durham, RCRSP, Creighton University
Region VI: Gregory M. Reinhardt, Ed.D., University of Utah
Canadian Region: Clifford-Roy Baker, York University
2021
Region I: Dexter Shorter, Pennsylvania State University
Region II: Aaron Combs, James Madison University
Region III: Veronica Chevalier, M.S, University of Notre Dame
Region IV: Tyler Burroughs, Kansas State University
Region V: Michelle Harder, University of Iowa
Region VI: Kevin “K-Mart” Martin, UC -Riverside
Canadian Region: Joni Richardson, University of Victoria
2020
Region I: Scott Flickinger, Cornell University
Region II: Daniel Renfro, University of South Florida
Region III: Todd Dion, University of Notre Dame
Region IV: Andrew Bruni, Centers, LLC @ University of Missouri – St. Louis
Region V: Mallory Valentine, University of Iowa
Region VI: Troy Vaughn, CRSS, University of Arizona
Canadian Region: Jordan Robinson, Centennial College
Past recipients
Recipients are featured for five years. Earlier recipients are available through the archive by contacting NIRSA staff.
Award Namesake
Horace Wesley Moody, Sr.
Founding member of the National Intramural Association
Entry Fee & Payment Information
Nomination is free