#CSCUNITE25 Attendance Grant Recipients and NCAA Inclusion Grant recipients announced

February 24, 2025

in CSC Unite Convention,

College Sports Information Directors of America

2025 CSC Unite Attendance Grant Recipients and NCAA Inclusion CSC Convention Program

From more than 140 applicants, 22 College Sports Communicators members have been selected to receive CSCUNITE25 Convention Attendance Grants and will attend the association's annual convention June 8-11 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Florida.

For 14 of the recipients, it will be their first CSC Unite convention. Eight of the 22 grant recipients have five or more years of experience in the profession, and five are first-year CSC members.

Each grant includes a complimentary convention registration, allowing the grant funds to go toward hotel nights, transportation and per diem.

The selection committee is composed of CSC officers, staff and members of special interest groups within the association.

As part of receiving a grant, each winner will help CSC's convention operations team with on-site duties and provide written reviews of their experience following the convention.

"With a commitment of more than $20,000 a year, CSC is investing in the future of our members and other aspiring professionals at a time when local resources may be limited," noted University of Arkansas Senior Associate AD for Public Relations & Former Student-Athlete Engagement and 2024-25 CSC President Kevin Trainor. "We are excited to welcome all our outstanding grant recipients - those selected by CSC and those selected by the NCAA - to Orlando for CSCUnite25 in June."

This is the 10th year of the CSC convention attendee grant program. Nearly $165,000 has been distributed to 216 CSC members as reimbursement for convention-related costs over the program's first nine years.

The program began in 2014 when 10 recipients were selected. It doubled in size for 2015 and 2016 with grants worth $800 apiece. Beginning in 2017, the Executive Board of Directors voted to add two more grants specifically designated for ethnic minorities. That brought the total number of grants given by CSC to 22. The Board also increased the stipend to $1,000.

Seventh Year of Partnership With the NCAA For NCAA Inclusion CSC Convention Program

In addition to the CSC grants, six members from the three NCAA divisions will attend the convention as part of the NCAA Inclusion CSC Convention Grant program. In the seventh year of partnership between CSC and the NCAA's Leadership Development and Media Coordination and Statistics staffs, the program's goal is to advocate for diversity within the athletic communications profession. The program includes a visit to the NCAA national office and pairs recipients with a CSC mentor for the upcoming academic year on top of covering registration fees, lodging and transportation.

"We are pleased to again offer both CSCUNITE25 convention attendance grants and partner with the NCAA to award an additional six inclusion grants as well for those wanting to attend our annual convention," said CSC Interim Executive Director Will Roleson. "This annual grant program significantly benefits our sports communicators. Our funding for the opportunity to attend our annual conventions for learning and networking is an investment in a brighter future for both the attendees and the organization."

NCAA Division III CSC Student Program

There is more funding for sports communicators' professional development through NCAA Division III as well. Through the Division III CSC Student Program, the NCAA Division III governance staff will host students who are interested in the athletics communications profession during Divisional Day at CSC Unite. Selected students will be exposed to the convention, association members and the athletics communication profession. Grant recipients will attend welcome and debrief meetings and be assigned a mentor. The goal of the program is to build a pipeline in an effort to ultimately diversify the Division III athletics communication landscape.

2025 CSC UNITE Convention Attendance Grant Recipients
26667 Sofiia Briantseva Photographer - Sports Information Emmanuel University	26668 Conlan Burk Coordinator of Athletic Communications, Marketing, & In-Game Operations Carroll College	26669 Patrick Duffy Assistant Athletic Director for Communications Stevens Institute of Technology	26670 Sarah Fajer Director of Sports Communication The College of Idaho	26671 Kristin Farris Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations Bemidji State University
26677 Hillary Fisher Assistant Athletic Director, Communications Anne Arundel Community College	26678 Aaron Johnson Assistant Director of Media Services Purdue Fort Wayne	26679 Jenna Jorgensen Communications and Public Relations Coordinator Stillwater Area Public School District	26680 Trevor Jossart Assistant Athletic Director for Communications Augustana College	26681 Jack MacDonald Assistant AD for Communications University of Southern Mississippi
26682 Matthew McIntosh Assistant Athletic Communications Director Shenandoah University	26683 Timothy McKinney Sports Information Specialist Triton College	26684 Chelsea Norris Sr. Manager, Marketing, Communications and Events Dalhousie University	26685 Cadence Pierce Graduate Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Wilmington College	26686 Dan Polischuk Sports Information & Communications Coordinator Wilfrid Laurier University
26687 Brooke Richards Assistant Director of Strategic Communications University of Northern Colorado	26688 Hannah Robb Creative and Digital Media Strategist St. Olaf College	26689 Jesse Soles Assistant Sports Information Director and Internal Operations Manager Francis Marion University	26690 Breanna Stalsitz Director of Athletic Media Relations Rhodes College	26691 Dante Thompson Creative Social Media Intern University of North Carolina at Charlotte
26692 Michael Vesci Director of Athletic Communications Post University	26693 Shirell Washington Assistant Sports Information Director Randolph College
NCAA Inclusion CSC UNITE Convention Grant Recipients
26694 Jalon Avent Middle Atlantic Conference Division III	26695 Coreyon Chester Texas Woman's University Division II
26696 Clarisa Cruz University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Division I	26697 Dawnisha Franklin Plattsburgh State University of New York Division III
26698 Kensley Walters Conference USA Division I	26699 Devanée Williams Eckerd College Division II

#CSCUNITE25 Attendance Grant Recipients and NCAA Inclusion Grant recipients announced

College Sports Information Directors of America

2025 CSC Unite Attendance Grant Recipients and NCAA Inclusion CSC Convention Program

Seventh Year of Partnership With the NCAA For NCAA Inclusion CSC Convention Program

NCAA Division III CSC Student Program

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