Mobile Nav

William N. Wasson Student Leadership & Academic Awards

Celebrate exceptional students

The William N. Wasson Student Leadership & Academic Awards recognize top students, both graduate and undergraduate, in collegiate recreation who participate in or are employed by the Department of Recreational Sports.

Nominations are Closed

The nomination period happens in the fall of each year.

Nomination Information

Other Information

Named after NIRSA’s founder, Dr. William N. Wasson, the William N. Wasson Student Leadership & Academic Awards recognize exceptional undergraduate and graduate students who set the standard on campuses across the country.

Eligibility

Be a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at a college or university at the time of nomination, or have graduated within the same academic year in which the award is given.
- If the nominee has graduated and is no longer enrolled at the time of nomination, a letter from a member of the institution’s campus recreation staff  must be submitted with the nomination materials. This letter should confirm that the nominee graduated during the same academic term as the award nomination.
Be actively involved with their school’s Recreation Department through student employment, participation, or volunteering.
Undergraduate and graduate nominees must hold a current NIRSA membership at the time of nomination.
Why is membership required?
The Wasson Award recognizes student leaders who have demonstrated excellence in campus recreation and engagement with the NIRSA community. As a membership organization, NIRSA requires active student membership to demonstrate involvement and contribution to the Association who is giving the award. This requirement was added following a review of award criteria to better align the award with its purpose and with eligibility standards across NIRSA awards. It also helps ensure resources are used responsibly while encouraging students to connect with a professional network that can support their growth and career development.
Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale or 3.75 on a 5.0 scale.
Nominees must be participants of, volunteers for, and/or employed by the Department of Recreational Sports.
A student may only receive this award once per academic level – once as an undergraduate student and once as a graduate student.

Selection Criteria

Scholarship or professional development through research, honors, self-improvement, continuing education, certifications, presentations, participation in professional organizations (e.g., internships, NIRSA membership, CPR/First Aid)
Involvement in department service through participation in student organizations, employee/campus recreation advisory board representative, committee work, community/campus activity, or leadership in employee training or orientation programs, etc.
Campus or community involvement through volunteerism
Promotion or participation in campus diversity as demonstrated through inclusion, recruitment and/or retention of diverse student populations into recreational sports programs, through participation in orientation, multicultural affairs, or related programs

Download an example of an effective Wasson Award letter of recommendation.

Award Recipients

2026

Region I

Andrew Curry, Millersville University
Nicholas Liu, Rowan University
Adrianna Wood, Towson University

Region II

Fauz Adeyinka, Clemson University
Aimee FitzPatrick, James Madison University
Dorsey Howarth, Georgia Southern University
Sabrina Leistikow, James Madison University
Savannah Talley, James Madison University
Megan Thomas, James Madison University

Region III

Sarah Messing, Bowling Green State University
Lauren Young, Western Michigan University

Region IV

Parker Callegari, Sam Houston State University
Dylan Linn, Oklahoma State University

Region V

Tom Dey, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Dax Duncan, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Collin Kollasch, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Region VI

Zéa Abreu, Portland State University
Bailey Crone, University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Ella Riccomini, UC Davis
Alysse Tessier, UC Davis

Canadian Region

No nominations were received

2025

Region I

Bella Costello, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hunter Crabbs, Millersville University
Jacob Robinson, Millersville University
Owen Schneider, University of Delaware
Aaron White, Millersville University

Region II

Virginia “Jennie” Conant, James Madison University
Walker Franklin, James Madison University
Ella Mitchell, James Madison University
Alivia Palmer, James Madison University
Erika Shaffer, James Madison University
Shay Steinkirchner, James Madison University

Region III

Sela Mary Tian Chamberlin, University of Notre Dame
Teah Haag, University of Dayton
Allie Huller, University of Notre Dame

Region IV

Benjamin Bernardino, The University of Texas at Arlington
Isaac Kim, The University of Texas at Arlington
Kayla Polanco, Oklahoma State University
Jon Thibeault, Oklahoma State University

Region V

Kevin Bowe, University of North Dakota
Aiden Butler, Drake University
Madie Ewing, University of Nebraska Lincoln
Caitlin Hoh, University of Minnesota – Duluth
Andrean Maier, University of Minnesota – Duluth
Ethan Trout, University of Nebraska Lincoln

Region VI

Sophie Bareiss, University of California, Davis
Rhea-Jane Dignadice, University of California, Davis
Audrey Sheehan, University of California, Davis
Joy Yang, University of California, Davis

Canadian Region

Abdullah Naseer Ud Din, UBC Okanagan
Jack Parry, Brock University

2024

Region I

Schuyler Capozzoli, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Shannon Colbert, Towson University
Chelsea Crane, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Chloe Kissinger, Millersville University
Jessica Matheson, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Region II

Lauren Ayres, James Madison University
Elijah Dale, James Madison University
Katelyn Gil, Georgia Southern University
Lauren Shutt, James Madison University
Abigail Townsend, James Madison University
Grace Young, James Madison University

Region III

Gabriella Fisette, Indiana University South Bend/University of Notre Dame
Morgan Losey, Western Michigan University
Nalani Lee Malackowski, University of Notre Dame
Ben Miles, The Ohio State University

Region IV

Justine Balconi-Lamica, The University of Texas at Arlington
Emily Schneider, Texas A&M University
Linden Settles, The University of Texas at Arlington

Region V

Hayden Bavis, University of North Dakota
Grace Charlesworth, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ryan Larson, North Dakota State University
Ciara Nelson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Region VI

Tayllor Johns, Northern Arizona University
Sarah Mebane, California State University, Bakersfield
Oshiogwe Nash-Haruna, University of California Davis
Ainsley Nommensen, California State University Bakersfield
Lia Reznik, University of California Davis

Canadian Region

No nominations were received

2023

Region I

Curtis J. Richall, University of Rhode Island
Phoebe Kurniawan, University of Maryland
James Davis, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Olay Ajayi, Cornell University
Jake Novick, Towson University
Kaylyn Carlucci, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Region II

Tim Groth, James Madison University
Shaina Reins, East Tennessee State University
Delaney Carrick, James Madison University
Chandler Bagwell, James Madison University
William Burton, James Madison University
Isabelle Flugrad, James Madison University

Region III

Mattison Interian, University of Notre Dame
Matilda Smolij, University of Cincinnati

Region IV

Brittany Close, Oklahoma State University
Isaac Estrada, Oklahoma State University

Region V

Brynn Fuelberth, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Hattie Roberts, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Bethany Meyers, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Sophia Thomas, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Eric Gunderson, University of Minnesota Duluth
Kinna Arp, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Region VI

Sophia Pienta, UC Davis
Olivia Badalamenti, UC Davis
Rachel Vermeltfoort, University of Utah
Jacob Parker, Seattle University
Zachary Gaziano Smith, Seattle University

Canadian Region

Lauryn Rogers, University of Windsor

2022

Region I

Brooke Donald, Towson University
Olivia Palmer, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amin Purry, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Isabela Yepes, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Region II

Spencer Cavan, James Madison University
Erin Davis, James Madison University
Eduardo Hernandez Escobar, Southern Miss Campus Recreation
Burley Johnson, University of South Carolina Aiken
Brittany Kaplan, James Madison University
Andrew Sklavounos, James Madison University

Region III

Quinn Erin Hogan, University of Notre Dame
Cameron Johnson, Cleveland State University
Dean Maloney, University of Notre Dame
Aliyah Valdez, The Ohio State University

Region IV

Alyssa Kerr, Oklahoma State University
Clifford Richardson, Oklahoma State University

Region V

Joe Hinnant, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Jason Johanek, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Kara Peightal, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ethan Roeder, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Brett Rowland, University of Northern Colorado
Madeline Zitek, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Region VI

Annie Breger, UC Davis
Pierce C. Desmond, UC Davis Campus Recreation
Kaylon Draney, The University of Utah
JT (Jack-Thomas) Lee, University of California, Davis

2021

Region I

Ashley Murphy, Towson University
Eleanor VanVranken, University of Maryland
Megan Callahan, University of Connecticut
Eli Goldfarb, The University of Rhode Island
Marissa Vittorio, University of New Haven

Region II

Gracie Jones, James Madison University
Kellee Nordstrom, UNC Greensboro
Dylan Scott, James Madison University
Gregory “BJ” Beckwith, James Madison University
Abby Brocato, James Madison University
LeAnne Davis, University of Mississippi

Region III

Karen David, University of Dayton

Region V

Michael Anderson, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Kathrynne Nail, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Brock Priebe, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Rebeccah Stolpa, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Jennifer Beres, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Alli Johnson, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Region VI

Ryan Coffee, University of California, Davis
Brandon McWilliams, Seattle University

Canadian Region

Ross Clausi, University of Western Ontario

2020

Region I

Niletta Burton, Rider University
Savannah Kirtley, Towson University
Christian Montenegro, Cornell University
CJ Rhan, Cornell University

Region II

Corey Acord, West Virginia University
Leah Bataille, James Madison University
Hayley Robb, Western Kentucky University
Jordan Robinson, University of Georgia
Courtney Smith, UNC Greensboro
Brian Tran, James Madison University

Region III

Sarina Routowicz, Western Michigan University
Elizabeth Stitzel, Loyola University Chicago

Region IV

Anaelle Sure, Texas A&M University – Commerce

Region V

Julie Johnson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Kenzi Johnson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Irvin Ramirez-Benavides, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Region VI

Emma Federico, Seattle University
Malia Nakamura, Seattle University
Marine Vasseur, Seattle University
Christina White, University of California, Davis

Canadian Region

Kevin Wilson, University of Windsor

Past Recipients

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

Award Namesake

William N. Wasson

NIRSA Founder

Entry Fee & Payment Information

Nomination is free