2017 CoSIDA Convention Attendance Grant Recipients Announced
College Sports Information Directors of America
Related story
Twenty CoSIDA members from diverse professional backgrounds will be attending the association’s June convention as a result of their selection as convention attendance grant recipients. For nine of the recipients, it will be their first CoSIDA convention.
The Convention Grant Attendance Program began in 2014 when 10 recipients were selected. The program doubled in size for 2015 and remains at 20 grants worth $800 apiece. Each grant includes a complimentary convention registration, allowing the grant funds to go toward hotel nights, transportation and per diem. The 2017 convention will be held June 11-14 at the Orlando World Center Marriott.
Athletics communicators from Division I (six), Division II (three), Division III (two), NAIA (six), two-year colleges (two) and Canada’s USports (one) are represented. Regional, gender and ethnic diversity is represented as well. Of the 20 winners, 12 have been CoSIDA members for five years or less, while three have been CoSIDA members for 15 years or more.
This year saw a record 88 applicants submit a personal letter indicating their interest in attending and what they hope to learn at the convention, as well as a letter from their supervisor or business manager detailing the school’s inability to fund related expenses. The selection committee is comprised of CoSIDA officers, staff and members of special interest groups within the association.
As part of receiving a grant, each winner will be recognized at one of the convention awards luncheons and will help CoSIDA’s Convention Operations Committee with on-site duties. In addition, recipients will provide written reviews of their experience following the convention.
The CoSIDA Board of Directors also approved the addition of two ethnic minority convention attendance grants (see related story).
2017 CoSIDA Convention Attendance Grant Recipients
| Damian Alexander | Sports Information Director | Florida Memorial University | NAIA |
| David Alexander | Assistant Athletics Director for Communications | The College of Saint Rose | NCAA Division II |
| Brie Campbell | Director of Sports Information, Marketing and Promotions, SWA | William Jessup University | NAIA |
| Natalie Davis | Director of Public Information and Sports Information | Copiah-Lincoln Community College | 2-Year College |
| Maggie Hayon | Assistant Sports Information Director | University of Delaware | NCAA Division I |
| Jen Heisel | Assistant Media Relations Director | San Diego State University | NCAA Division I |
| Habtom Keleta | Sports Information Director | Dillard University | NAIA |
| Sarah Kirkpatrick | Coordinator of Athletic Communications | American International College | NCAA Division II |
| Brian Larson | Sports Information Director | University of Mary | NCAA Division II |
| Akilah Laster | Assistant Director, Athletics Communications | University of California | NCAA Division I |
| Brian Lentz | Assistant Sports Information Director | Northwest Mississippi Community College | 2-Year College |
| Emily Machado | Director of Sports Information | Lasell College | NCAA Division III |
| John Martin | Assistant Communications Director | Colorado State University | NCAA Division I |
| Shawn Medeiros | Sports Information Director | Endicott College | NCAA Division III |
| Jon Oglesby | Senior Director of Communications and External Operations | Big Sky Conference | NCAA Division I |
| Wendy Reid | Sports Information Director | Olivet Nazarene University | NAIA |
| Kenisha Rhone | Director of Digital Media and Social Strategy | Belmont University | NCAA Division I |
| Nikki Roeder | Sports Information Director | Graceland University | NAIA |
| Marty Rourke | Sports Information Coordinator | Bishop's University | USports |
| Ryan Wronkowicz | Sports Information Director | Lourdes University | NAIA |
2017 CoSIDA Ethnic Minority Convention Attendance Grant Recipients
| Zekeya Harrison | Assistant AD for Athletic Media Relations | Tennessee State University | NCAA Division I |
| Nona Letuligasenoa | Assistant Athletic Director for Communications | University of Alaska Fairbanks | NCAA Division II |
