Every year, NIRSA seeks to honor and highlight members who have made an impact by recognizing their outstanding service and achievements. NIRSA awards are presented annually at the NIRSA Annual Conference & Recreational Sports Expo. This allows as many members of the NIRSA family as possible to celebrate and acknowledge our deserving recipients. Please consider nominating a deserving NIRSA member for a NIRSA award!

The list of deadlines for nominations is below, with dates selected to allow the various awards committees time to carefully consider applications and prepare awards before NIRSA 2017:

  • NIRSA Annual Service Awards, September 15
  • NIRSA Honor Award, November 1
  • Outstanding Sports Facilities Awards, November 1
  • Creative Excellence Awards, November 1
  • Regional Awards of Merit, November 15
  • Horace Moody Awards, November 15
  • William N. Wasson Student Leadership and Academic Awards, November 15
  • USTA/NIRSA Tennis Ace Awards, November 15
  • NIRSA Research and Assessment Award, November 15

NIRSA Annual Service Award

Service is a key value of our Association; without the continued and outstanding contributions of our NIRSA colleagues, collegiate recreation wouldn’t be the driving force on campuses that it is today. We all know members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their NIRSA volunteer service. Please recognize their contributions to NIRSA over the past year—nominate them for a NIRSA Annual Service Award by September 15.  If you would like to recognize a colleague for long-term service, please consider nominating them for the Honor Award or a Regional Award of Merit instead.

NIRSA Honor Award

The NIRSA Honor Award is the highest honor bestowed by our Association. It recognizes and celebrates a member for a lifetime of outstanding achievements in our profession and exemplary service to our Association. Please consider nominating a deserving colleague for the Honor Award by November 1.

Outstanding Sports Facilities Award

Has your campus recently completed a new facility? Or has your facility recently undergone significant renovations? Consider applying for an Outstanding Sports Facilities award! Applications are due by November 1.

Creative Excellence Award

Does your department create fun and effective promotional materials? Collegiate recreation students and professionals are among the most innovative marketers of events and programs on college and university campuses. So don’t miss this opportunity to show off your work! Apply for a Creative Excellence Award by November 1.

A complete list of awards, criteria, applications, and deadlines can be found on the NIRSA website.

  • For more information, please contact NIRSA Leadership Programs Coordinator Keeley Naughton.
National Sport Programs Coordinator at | NIRSA Profile

Keeley Naughton is the NIRSA National Sport Programs Coordinator