William N. Wasson Student Leadership & Academic Award

Deadline: January 15

Purpose

The William N. Wasson award is to recognize top undergraduate and graduate students who are participants of and/or employed by the Department of Recreational Sports. The award gives NIRSA an opportunity to honor outstanding student leaders who are active participants, employees, and/or volunteers at their institution.

Undergraduate Student Criteria

1. Nominees must be full-time undergraduate students on a university/college campus at the time of nomination or may have graduated in December of the current academic year or a Spring academic year Graduate with less than full-time status 
2. Nominees may be studying any curriculum at their institution but must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 GPA on a 4.00 scale or 3.75 GPA on a 5.00 scale.
3. Nominees must be participants of, volunteers for, and/or employed by the Department of Recreational Sports.
4. Nominees must have demonstrated scholarship or professional development through research, honors, self-improvement, continuing education, certifications, presentations, participation in professional organizations (e.g., internships, NIRSA memberships).
5. Nominees must have demonstrated leadership within the Recreation department, including but not limited to: service through participation in student organizations, advisory board or committee work, community/campus activity related to recreation, leadership in employee training or orientation programs, or other leadership opportunities.
6. Nominees must have demonstrated campus or community involvement through volunteerism outside of their scope of responsibilities within their recreation program.
7. Nominees must have taken an active role in promoting recreational services/activities across their campus community with the goal of including, recruiting, and/or retaining a diverse student population into these events. Nominations should include specific examples of nominees' activities/events, level of participation and program impact.

Graduate Student Criteria

1. Nominees must be full-time graduate students on a university/college campus at the time of nomination or may have graduated in December of the current academic year or a Spring academic year graduate with less than full-time status.
2. Nominees may be studying any curriculum at their institution but must have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.00 scale or a 4.0 GPA on a 5.00 scale. 
3. Nominees must be participants of, volunteers for, and/or employed by the Department of Recreational Sports.
4. Nominees must be student members of NIRSA.
5. Nominees must have demonstrated scholarship or professional development through research, honors, self-improvement, continuing education, certifications, presentations, participation in professional organizations (e.g., internships, NIRSA memberships).
6. Nominees must have demonstrated leadership within the Recreation department, including but not limited to: service through participation in student organizations, advisory board or committee work, community/campus activity related to recreation, leadership in employee training or orientation programs, or other leadership opportunities.
7. Nominees must have demonstrated campus or community involvement through volunteerism outside of their scope of responsibilities within their recreation program.
8. Nominees must have taken an active role in promoting recreational services/activities across their campus community with the goal of including, recruiting, and/or retaining a diverse student population into these events. Nominations should include specific examples of nominees' activities/events, level of participation and program impact.

Number of Undergraduate Student Awards

A maximum of twenty-four awards will be given, with a maximum of four from each of the six regions within NIRSA. All awards will be of equal value.

Number of Graduate Student Awards

A maximum of twelve awards will be given, with a maximum of two from each of the six regions within NIRSA. All awards will be of equal value.

Identifying Candidates

Announcement of this annual awards program will be conveyed through email notification and website access to all NIRSA members, notifying them of the award, its criteria, and due date. Nominations will be accepted from full-time recreational sports professionals who are Professional Members of NIRSA. Each institution may nominate up to four (4) undergraduate and (2) graduate students. A nomination form and a letter of support must be submitted on-line for each nominee. The nominating professional will verify the GPA of each nominee.

Selection of Award Winners

The selection committee is comprised of the Student Leadership and Academic Award Committee. All six NIRSA regions shall be represented on the committee. There will also be a student member and a designated committee chair 

Timeline (revised September 2008)

NIRSA will begin the online nomination process in November. The application deadline will be January 15. The list of award winners will be forwarded to the NIRSA National Center by February 1.

Award

The award will be a plaque designed by NIRSA. The recipients and institutions will be recognized at the annual conference. All recipients not present will have their plaques mailed to each winner’s Recreational Sports Director in May for presentation. Member Institutions may purchase duplicate award plaques for display use from the NIRSA National Center. Photos of award winners received prior to the conference will be included in a presentation at the NIRSA booth in the Recreational Sports Exposition at the conference.