NIRSA Honor Award
Nomination & Selection Process

Deadline: December 15

Purpose

As the highest honor awarded by the Association, the NIRSA Honor Award is presented each year at the annual conference. NIRSA, through the presentation of the Honor Award, honors a member for outstanding achievements in the profession and exemplary service to the Association. The Honor Award Committee presents the award at the Honor Award Banquet during the annual conference.

The established guidelines governing nominations for this award include the following minimum eligibility requirements:

1. The candidate must be a member of NIRSA. Former members who have retired from the profession retain their eligibility.
2. The candidate should be at least 35 years of age.
3. The candidate should have at least 8 years of experience in the field of recreational sports.
4. The candidate should exemplify strong standards of ethical behavior, consistent with the NIRSA Code of Ethics.

• Nominator should send a letter of support to the chair of the Honor Award Committee addressing as many of the items as possible that relate to the “evidence of leadership” as listed under the criteria below.
• Include the nominee’s resume or vita sheet
• Nominator must provide accurate data relating to dates and accomplishment for sited contributions.
• Letters of support from NIRSA members and others will contribute to documentation of service for the nominee.

Additional information for Nomination Process:

• Nominations shall be carried over for three years and then released unless re-nominated.
• Nomination and all supporting materials must be received by December 15 in order to be included in the candidate’s packets.

The candidate should have shown evidence of outstanding volunteer leadership in the Association, and evidence of outstanding leadership in their workplace.

1. Participating in efforts which are of significant breadth or impact to the services or programs of the Association
2. Supporting or contributing to efforts which allow the Association to move through times of transition, change, self-assessment, or planning
3. Fostering innovation or the fulfillment of new initiatives within the Association
4. Contributing to the Association’s commitment to serve and recruit a diverse membership
5. Influencing, motivating or supporting the development of students, young professionals, or emerging leaders in the profession
6. Contributing to the learning or scholarly endeavors of others through such activity as research, assessment, teaching, presentations, or publication development 
7. Accomplishing goals or strategic projects, either through appointed roles or elected office within the Association at the institutional, state, regional, or national level
8. Enhancing the visibility, awareness, or impact of the profession and/or the Association to other external organizations, business or governing entities, or individuals
9. Significant contributions in their workplace

Additional Admirable Characteristics (can be used as a tie-breaker):

• Volunteerism with Public or Civic Organizations
• Honors and Awards

The Honor Award Committee will:

1. Conduct an appropriate amount of teleconferences with all committee members participating in the discussion and selection of the award recipient. Special mention of the NIRSA Confidentiality policy should be made, as all the work of the committee should be conducted in Executive Session.
2. Use a consistent rating and ranking/point system by all committee members during the selection process to be supported by committee discussion.
3. Narrow the nomination pool to up to three finalist candidates if more than three nominees are being considered.
4. Select the Honor Award recipient by committee consensus; barring consensus, by a majority vote of committee members.

Submit nominations to the Honor Award Committee Chair:

• Thomas Dison
  The University of Texas at Austin
  Division of Recreational Sports
  1 University Station D7500
  Austin, TX 78712-2078
  Phone: (512) 471-4492
  Fax: (512) 471-4994
  Email: dison@mail.utexas.edu 

NIRSA National Center staff liaison is Executive Office.