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 (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, endorsed by NIRSA, 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.

Nominations & Applications

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 candidates leadership qualities that promise continued progress in the future
  • A resume or biography of the candidate

The application and nomination deadline to apply is December 2, 2024

[contact-form-7 id=”14760″ title=”Herman Williams Founders Outstanding Service Award Application” /]

The nomination period has ended.

Eligibility & 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.

Previous Recipients

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

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

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

For More Info

For more information, please contact the Co-Chair of the Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference, D.J. Preston.