Compete in a Tournament
Compete in National and Regional Tournaments.
Get Involved Beyond Playing
Every great tournament gets its start with a great host venue, a dedicated tournament staff, and outstanding officials.
What Drives the Championship Series
How we lead, what we promise, and what we prioritize.
Our Principles
To ensure the integrity of the Series, staff and volunteers will:
- Foster a culture that promotes positive participant experiences
- Manage operational resources responsibly
- Faciliate and encourage student and professional development opportunities
- Assess, evaluate, and implement standards of excellence
- Lead with open and honest communication
Our Promise
The Series provides premier championship experiences delivered by dedicated NIRSA volunteers within a safe and inclusive environment.
The promise emphasizes the importance of creating meaningful experiences for all participants – players, coaches, spectators, officials, volunteers, staff, and stakeholders.
Our Priorities
- Communicate the impact of involvement
- Engage and retain volunteers
- Focus strategically on the participant experience
Meet the NIRSA Championship Series Executive Team
Lauren Carlson, National Sport Programs Manager
Lauren is part of the NIRSA Staff team, working closely with the incredible volunteers, athletes, and student officials who power the NIRSA Championship Series. Her journey with the Series began in 2014 as a student official, and she later continued her involvement professionally while at the University of Central Florida. Her passion for the NIRSA community ultimately led her to her current role, where she is committed to bringing big ideas and even bigger change to the Championship Series.
Originally from Chicago, Lauren now lives in sunny Florida and makes the most of the warm weather by spending time at the beach, hanging out with friends, and traveling whenever she can. A true sports enthusiast, she still finds time to stay involved as a collegiate women’s basketball official — because for Lauren, sports really are life.
Stephanie Calhoun, Series Executive Chair
Stephanie serves as Assistant Director of Facility Management at Georgia Southern University where she oversees recreation facilities, events, and student staff. She has been involved with the NIRSA Championship Series since 2015 when she attended her first tournament as student official, and she has been involved ever since. In addition to contributing to her campus community and volunteering with the NIRSA Championship Series, Stephanie enjoys traveling to National Parks and spending time with her goldendoodle, Penny.
Nikki Vance, Series Executive Vice Chair
Nikki is the Coordinator of Intramural Sports & Youth Camps at the University of Oregon. She has been involved with the Series for 7+ years and currently serves as the Vice Chair of the NIRSA Championship Series Executive Team. She has previously served as the Chair of the Brand Management Work Team, Chair of the Esports Taskforce, and the Director of Media for National Flag Football while also volunteering at numerous regional and national tournaments. She currently officiates women’s college basketball as well as high school basketball and volleyball. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, whether hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, or camping, and also enjoys unwinding on the couch with a trashy reality tv show or a good book.
Greg Durham, Series Executive Second Vice Chair
Greg serves as the Director of Partnerships & Programs at Georgia Tech Campus Recreation. With a focus on fitness, competitive sports, and outdoor recreation, Greg is passionate about creating student-centered programs that drive engagement and build community.
Greg has been involved in NIRSA since 2008. He has served in many roles on the Championship Series, including Director of Competition for National Basketball, Director of Officials at several Regional Basketball & Flag Football tournaments as well as the Tournament Director for the first-ever NIRSA Esports Tournament.
Outside of work, Greg is a longtime sports fan, a college women’s basketball official, and a video game nerd.
NIRSA Championship Series Logos
Find a variety of NIRSA logos (NIRSA, NIRSA Foundation, NIRSA Championship Series, and more) as well as logos for our various National and Regional Tournaments.
Logos are available as PNG (pixel) and PDF (vector).