NIRSA Annual Service Award

2025

Professional Awards

• Lindsay Brookey, North Carolina State University: for outstanding contributions in developing and delivering NIRSA’s inaugural Recreation for Wellbeing course
• Mark A. Ferguson, Ohio University: for outstanding contributions in developing and delivering NIRSA’s inaugural Recreation for Wellbeing course
• Lamont Mayer Jr., Jacksonville State University: for outstanding contributions demonstrated by developing and serving in the position of NIRSA 2024 @NIRSAlive host
• Chad McKenzie, Round Rock Multipurpose Complex: for exceptional leadership demonstrated as Chair of the NIRSA Championship Series Standards of Competition Work Team
• Maxwell Miller, Swarthmore College: for exceptional leadership demonstrated as Chair of the NIRSA Championship Series Soccer Work Team

Group Awards

• Silvia Chan, University of Connecticut
• Lexi Chaput, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
• Maria L. Lauron-Ramos, CPACC, Princeton University
• Veronica Ballinger, M.S., University of Notre Dame

2024

Professional Awards

• Jason Vlastaras, Texas State University: for exceptional leadership exhibited during the creation of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education ESports Programs Standards
• Jacob M. Eubank, Ed.D., CUNY Lehman College: for exceptional leadership exhibited during the revision of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education Standards for Campus Recreation
• Brittany Mueller, Florida State University: for outstanding commitment to the inclusion and integration of Special Olympic athletes in the NIRSA Championship Series
• Maria L. Lauron-Ramos, CPACC, Princeton University: for exemplary leadership with the NIRSA Asian Caucus
• Jonathan Johnston, CSAEd, CSAEd-CR, Texas A&M University-Commerce: for exemplary leadership as Chair of the NIRSA Championship Series
• Stephanie Calhoun, University of Georgia: for outstanding contributions and leadership as the Flag Football Work Team Chair

Group Awards

• Campus Recreation Essentials: Sports Clubs Authors, for significant contributions as an author of Campus Recreation Essentials: Sports Clubs
• Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) Collegiate Recreation Contextual Statement Editors, for exceptional dedication and effort demonstrated during the revision of the CAS Collegiate Recreation Contextual Statement and Functional Program Standards
• CAS: Esports Standards Committee, for significant contributions made during the creation of the CAS Esport Program Standards

Student Award

• Elyse Standard: for exceptional leadership demonstrated while serving as the Chair of the first post-pandemic Region III Student Lead On

2023

Professional Awards

• Matthew R. Dunigan, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, for exemplary leadership and dedication to the NIRSA Championship Series as Chair of the Club Basketball Work Team
• Emily Patterson, Texas A&M University-College Station, for exemplary leadership and dedication to the NIRSA Championship Series as Director of Tournament Experience and Logistics at the 2021 NIRSA National Soccer Championships
• Dexter Shorter, Ed.D., Pennsylvania State University- University Park, for exemplary leadership and dedication to the NIRSA Championship Series as Chair of the Basketball Work Team
• Nikki Vance, University of Oregon, for exemplary leadership and dedication to the NIRSA Championship Series as Chair of the Esports Task Force

Group Awards

• Campus Recreation Essentials: Intramural Authors, for significant contributions as an author of Campus Recreation Essentials: Intramurals
• Campus Recreation Essentials: Student Staff Training & Development Authors, for significant contributions as an author of Campus Recreation Essentials: Student Staff Training and Development
• NIRSA Championship Series Social Justice Task Force, for demonstrating exceptional leadership and dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by serving on the NIRSA Championship Series Social Justice Task Force
• NIRSA JDEI Climate Study Steering Committee, for demonstrating exceptional leadership and dedication to justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion by serving on the NIRSA JDEI Climate Study Steering Committee
• Gender & Trans Inclusion in Collegiate Recreation Webinar Series Planners, for exceptional dedication and execution during the planning of the Gender & Trans Inclusion in Collegiate Recreation webinar series

2022

Professional Awards

• Amanda Alpert, for extraordinary leadership and dedication to inclusion as Unified Sports Work Team Chair, and contributions to the Unified Sports resource webpage development
• Jeremy Chance, for outstanding innovation and contributions in creating the Region IV conversation series, member spotlights and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Christina Galli, MS, MBA, for visionary leadership and extensive contributions to develop resources during her term as NIRSA Student Staff Development Task Force Co-Chair
• Katherine Geter, for exemplary vision and contributions to celebrate diversity and highlight industry leaders through the ‘Pioneering the way’ and ‘Women making history’ NIRSA article series

Student Award

• Tanika Santos MacSwain, for exceptional leadership, dedication and innovation to engage students as NIRSA Student Leader

Group Awards

• Health & Wellbeing Task Force, for strategically advancing health and wellbeing initiatives, conversations, resources, and practices with NIRSA members and partners
• NIRSA Championship Series Soccer “Train the Trainer” Planning Team, for the innovative planning and implementation of a new professional development opportunity in an area of need.

2021

Professional Awards

• Erin Patchett, PhD, for her dedication and outstanding leadership in advancing knowledge and considerations of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in campus recreation through both her academic research and NIRSA volunteer service
• Seneca T. Wilson, for extraordinary leadership and service to the 100 Black Men of Collegiate Recreation
• Andrea Snead, for her extraordinary service and impactful leadership to advance social justice, build community, and create brave spaces for campus rec professionals through her many volunteer roles in NIRSA
• Scott Flickinger, for exemplary leadership and dedication as chair of the NIRSA Championship Series Committee

Group Awards

• National Basketball Virtual Clinic, for exceptional adaptability and innovation in the leadership and development of the 2020 National Basketball Virtual Officials Clinic
• Rec without Borders National Trivia Project, for remarkable initiative and collaboration in cultivating a community of inclusion through the Rec Without Borders National Trivia Project

2020

Professional Awards

• Randall Ford, University of Texas at Austin, for outstanding leadership and service to the association as Chair of the NIRSA Championship Series Executive Committee
• David Bowles, University of Florida, for exemplary leadership, vision, and dedication in his years of service as a member of the NIRSA National Services Corporation Board of Directors
• Andrew C. Doyle, Southern New Hampshire University, for dedication and passion in service to Small Programs members of NIRSA and outstanding leadership in that regard in Region I
• Jenna Smith, University of Western Ontario, for her leadership and dedication to advance the work of the Canadian Region and remarkable efforts to inspire engagement in the association

Student Awards

• Alyssa Moncrief, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, for her extensive work on the Region IV Student Lead On committee and inspiring dedication to serve the students of NIRSA
• Caroline Ayers Ciell, University of Alabama, for exemplary leadership and outstanding efforts to engage students as the 2018-2019 NIRSA Student Leader

Group Awards

• Faculty of the Aspiring Directors Workshops, for their vision and leadership to develop educational offerings for the aspiring directors in NIRSA
• NIRSA Championship Series Long-Term Vision Task Force (Series 2.0), for incredible vision and execution in the leadership and evolution of NIRSA’s Championship Series

Past Recipients

Recipients are featured for five years. Earlier recipients are available through the archive by contacting NIRSA staff.