College Sports Information Directors of America

Below, see the schedule of the 2012 Special Award recipient feature stories which will be written by CoSIDA members throughout the spring. The full slate of 2012 Special Awards was announced March 2. All awards will be presented during the 2012 CoSIDA Convention in St. Louis (June 23-26).

• Individual feature story schedule for 2012 Special Awards
• CoSIDA St. Louis Convention awards presentation schedule

2012 CoSIDA Special Awards Salute

written by Debbie White, Senior Associate AD/External Relations, Old Dominion Bernadette Cafarelli celebrates a quarter century of service in the sports information profession this year, having spent the last 18 years at the University of Notre Dame, most currently an Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations.

“Bernie” began her career in sports information at the College of William and Mary, serving from 1984-87 as an assistant SID. She moved on to Providence College in 1987 to become the assistant director of marketing, promotions and media relations.

She joined the Irish sports information office as an assistant director in September 1994, was promoted to associate director in 1999 and later to sports information director in 2003. Cafarelli oversees the day to day operation of the media relations office and staff, as well as publicity material for Notre Dame’s Olympic sports teams. She works primarily with the Fighting Irish men’s basketball team and serves as co-editor of both the football game program and the athletic department’s annual report.

"I have been blessed to have been part of this profession for more than 25 years and I am grateful for the friendships that I have had with so many wonderful individuals,” says Cafarelli. “CoSIDA has certainly been a major part of my life; the relationships with my colleagues are something that I greatly cherish. My love of sports has allowed me to pursue a profession where I have been able to impact the lives of young people. I am most grateful for the remarkable student-athletes and coaches who have filled my life with so many unforgettable memories.”

Cafarelli has been a long-standing and recognized member of the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Committee since 1988 and currently serves as the committee’s co-chair and director of external relations. She received the Lester Jordan Award from CoSIDA in 2000 for her outstanding contributions to the Academic All-American program. She serves as a member of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four Media Relations Committee and is completing a three-year appointment on the Big East Academic Affairs Committee and the CoSIDA University Division Management Advisory Committee as the Football Bowl Subdivision representative for independent schools

A native of Schenectady, NY, she earned an undergraduate degree from Notre Dame in American studies in 1983 and a master’s degree in sports administration from Ohio University in 1984.

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Individual recipient feature story schedule for 2012 Special Awards

General 2012 Special Awards release

March

• Mon., 5: Kim Wenger (Centennial Conference): Rising Star Award (College Division) – by Ann King (The Sage Colleges)
• Wed., 7: Malcolm Moran: Jake Wade Award – by Joe Hornstein, CoSIDA 2nd Vice President
• Fri., 9: Maurice Williams (Hampton University): Rising Star Award (University Division) – by Ed Hill, Jr. (Howard University)
• Mon. 12: Bernie Cafarelli (Notre Dame): 25-Year Award - by Debbie White (Old Dominion)
• Wed. 14: Peter Schlehr (Towson University): Lifetime Achievement Award
• Fri. 16: Debbie Copp (University of Oklahoma): CoSIDA Hall of Fame
• Mon. 19: Roy Pickerill (Kentucky Wesleyan): 25-Year Award
• Wed. 21: Bob Condron (USOC): Lifetime Achievement Award and Keith Jackson Eternal Flame Award
• Fri. 23: Jack Neumann (University of Calgary): Warren Berg Award
• Mon. 26: Chuck Sadowski (University of Bridgeport): 25-Year Award
• Wed. 28: Kennan Timm (Wisconsin-Oshkosh): CoSIDA Hall of Fame

May

• Wed., 2: Wallace Dooley (formerly of Tennessee State): Lifetime Achievement Award
• Fri., 4: Jeff Nelson (Penn State): Bill Esposito Award
• Mon., 7: Bill Turnage (Florida Southern): Lifetime Achievement Award
• Wed., 9: Herb Vincent (LSU): 25-Year Award
• Fri., 11: Mike Mahon (Drake): Lifetime Achievement Award
• Mon., 14: Bill Wagner (DePauw): 25-Year Award
• Wed., 16: Fred Huff (formerly of Southern Illinois-Carbondale): CoSIDA Hall of Fame [Veteran Award Committee recipient]
• Fri., 18: Phil Haddy (University of Iowa): Lifetime Achievement Award
• Mon., 21: Dave Geringer (University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth): 25-Year Award
• Wed., 23: Charles "Chuck" Prophet (deceased; formerly of Mississippi Valley State): CoSIDA Hall of Fame
• Fri., 25: Robert Wilson (Florida State): 25-Year Award

Awards to be presented during CoSIDA St. Louis Convention, St. Louis, Missouri

Sunday, June 24: Kickoff Luncheon
Awards presented: 25-Year Awards; Trailblazer, Kenworthy Community Service, Rising Star (University and College Divisions), Esposito, Keith Jackson

Monday, June 25: (two award presentations) CoSIDA Hall of Fame luncheon
Awards presented: Lifetime Achievement; Jake Wade Award, CoSIDA Hall of Fame

Capital One Special Awards Gala (dinner/ceremony)
Awards presented: Arch Ward, Warren Berg, Lester Jordan, Enberg Award, Capital One Academic All-America Hall of Fame

Calendar

Important Dates