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President’s Award for the Article of Distinction

Celebrate important scholarly work

NIRSA’s premier publication, through the generous support of donors to the NIRSA Foundation, recognizes authors for their important scholarly contributions in the field of collegiate recreation.

Nomination period is CLOSED.

The nomination period happens in the fall of each year.

General Information

Other Information

Much of the content of Recreational Sports Journal (RSJ) comes directly from NIRSA professionals conducting research in the field of collegiate recreation. Each year, the RSJ editorial board recognizes authors with The President’s Award for the Article of Distinction for writing exceptional articles published in one of the two issues of the RSJ.

Eligibility

To be eligible, individuals must have published an original article in the previous year’s Recreational Sports Journal.

Selection Criteria

The following selection criteria is used by the selection committee, which is comprised of RSJ Editorial Board members:

The article should appeal to a wide range of the NIRSA membership.
The article should be substantiated by existing or new research, rather than just the author’s opinion or experience.
The article should contribute to the base of knowledge in the field of collegiate recreation.
The readership should find the information presented to be intellectually stimulating and/or challenging to the existing methods of thought and application.
The article should motivate the readership to implement the new information and/or encourage additional research on the subject material.

Award Recipients

2025

Perception Matters: Attitudes Towards Transgender Inclusion in Campus Recreational Sports, which appeared in Volume: 48, Issue 2 of the RSJ.

Eric Knee, Adelphi University
Austin Anderson, Indiana University School of Medicine
Alison Miller, Indiana University – Bloomington
William Ramos, Indiana University – Bloomington

2024

If You Build it Will They Come? The Mediating Roles of Human Resource and Program Capacities, which appeared in Volume: 47, Issue 1 of the RSJ.

Kevin E.S. Wilson, University of Waterloo
Laura Wood, University of Waterloo
Ryan Snelgrove, University of Waterloo

2023

Challenges faced and solutions implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic among North American college campus recreation staff. (2022) Vol. 46, No. 1

Samantha L Powers, George Mason University
Oliver W.A. Wilson, Victoria University of Wellington
Melissa Bopp, Pennsylvania State University

2022

Exploring Inclusion of College Students With IDD in Campus Recreation Through the Lens of Recreation Departments’ Organizational Level Stakeholders. (2021) Vol. 25, No. 1

Lindsey R. Oakes, Texas State University
Tracy R. Nichols, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Stuart J. Schleien, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Robert W. Strack, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Jeffrey J. Milroy, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

2021

Examining work experiences among collegiate recreation employees. (2020) Vol. 44, No. 1

Colin Lopez, Temple University
Elizabeth Taylor, PhD, Temple University
Gareth Jones, PhD, Temple University
Matt Huml, PhD, University of Cincinnati
Daniel Funk, PhD, Temple University

2020

Current Priorities in Campus Recreation: A Multi-Institutional Study of Strategic Plans. (2019) Vol. 43, No. 1

Leeann M. Lower-Hoppe, Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Megan L. Parietti, Ph.D.,University of Wisconsin- Parkside
W. Andrew Czekanski, Ph.D., Coastal Carolina University

Past Recipients

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

Entry Fee & Payment Information

Nomination is free