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
Debbie Copp - 2012 CoSIDA Hall of Fame inductee
by Ann King, The Sage Colleges
Debbie Copp has been an assistant in the University of Oklahoma Communications Office since 1977 and during that time she has most certainly distinguished herself for her attention to detail, professionalism and compassion for the student-athletes and coaches she has served. With that in mind, Copp, the OU athletics department's Director of Publications, has been selected for induction into the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame and will join the 2012 class at the Hall of Fame luncheon on June 25 in St. Louis, MO at the annual CoSIDA convention.
Throughout her career, Copp has garnered the attention of her peers for her outstanding work. In 2008, she was named the recipient of the 2008 Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award by CoSIDA. That award came on the heels of her 25-year award, which she earned from CoSIDA in 2001.
Speaking of the Hall of Fame selection, Copp said “I am absolutely overwhelmed with this honor and would like to thank the current Hall of Fame members and the friends, who were involved in making my nomination and the upcoming induction possible.”
She added, “When I received the Bob Kenworthy Award in 2008, I thought that would be the highlight of my professional career. Four years later, I am to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and that has left me speechless, a place I don’t often visit.”
Former Oklahoma football Academic All-America student-athlete Dewey Selmon - himself a 2010 CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-America Hall of Fame inductee - said of Debbie, “I could go on and on about Debbie’s accomplishments. But what I really want you to know is her heart and compassion."
"I first met Debbie as a member of the football team at the University of Oklahoma," Selmon continued. "She was continually supportive, enthusiastic, and interested in contributing to my success both off and on the field. It has been over 30 years since I donned a Sooner football uniform. But Debbie remains continually supportive, enthusiastic, and interested in contributing to my success. It is amazing to me that when I had a daughter playing basketball for OU, Debbie was there with the same enthusiasm she had when I was playing. I am only one of hundreds of athletes that Debbie has supported throughout her life; she has been a constant advocate for student-athletes. And when Debbie Copp is in your corner, she is in your corner for life!”
Brad Lund, owner of SOLDOUT Strategies noted of Debbie, “Ms. Copp was my direct supervisor during my stint as a student assistant at Oklahoma from 1984 thru 1989. Dozens and dozens of student assistants benefited from her tutelage - none more than I."
"Debbie not only paved the way for my career in professional sports, but she had a sincere desire for me to succeed in my personal life as well," Lund concluded. "I would be hard pressed to find someone that had a more positive influence on my collegiate experience than Debbie.“
Copp noted, “I know so many of the current Hall of Fame members and have worked with a number of them. Many I consider my friends and it is very humbling to be joining their ranks. One of the most important people in my professional career, the late Harold Keith, is a member of this group and I never expected to be honored in the same way he was.”
She has been active in CoSIDA since the 1970s, serving as the CoSIDA Committee on Committees’ chairperson the past six years. Copp has also been active on the special awards, publicists for women’s sports, publications awards, and computer committees. She has welcomed women and minorities into the profession and mentored many as an active member of FAME.
She joined the Sooner staff as a student in 1975 during the first year that women’s athletics were a part of the department. Copp went to full-time status in 1977 and has worked events in 19 of the 21 sports that OU sponsors. She moved into her current position in 1990. As the Director of Publications for Oklahoma Athletics, she has worked on numerous award-winning publications including national award winners for football, post-season, softball, track and field, soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, and wrestling media guides. She also has received writing awards from the organization.
For the last six years, Copp has coordinated the award nominations for the department. In that time, OU has produced two NCAA Top VIII Award winners; one NCAA Sportsmanship Award winner; four NACDA McLendon Memorial Minority Scholarship winners ($10,000 each); three NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners ($7,500 each); two Wooden Citizenship Cup winners; four Big 12 Sportsmanship Award winners; one Big 12 Athlete of the Year, and one NCAA Inspiration Award winner.
Additionally, two former student-athletes have been inducted in the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame while others have been honored with OU Regents Award for their contributions to the University. Several Sooner athletic staff members also have received national awards as well in that time period.
"None of this would ever have been possible without the many incredible opportunities that I have been given by the University of Oklahoma, my alma mater and only “grown up” world employer I have ever had," Copp stated. "I truly am Sooner born and bred and it is because of that this award has become a reality for me.”
Copp worked three Olympic Festivals as a press officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee and has assisted local charitable organizations, including Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity Women Build and the American Cancer Society. Beyond her work assignments, Copp has a long-standing tradition of community service both on campus and in the city of Norman.
A proud graduate of Oklahoma and almost a life-long resident of Norman, she is active in a number of organizations and campaigns including:
On campus activities:
• She has served as chair of the Staff Senate twice, recording secretary of the Senate once, president of her employee member group three times and received the staff merit award twice.
• Served on the search committee for the Dean of College of Journalism & Mass Communications.
• Serves as a Staff Senate representative on the Employee Benefits Committee, served on the Publications Board for nine years and was a presidential appointee to the Speakers Bureau for six years.
• Serves on the Campus Campaign (OU employee fundraising campaign) including a number of years as the staff co-chair
• Serves on Board of Visitors for the College of Arts & Sciences and has served on the Board of Visitors for the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.
• Served on the Board of Directors of the ‘O’ Club Oklahoma letterwinners association.
In the Norman community:
• She is currently serving as chair of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Resource Center and is in her second stint on that board. She previously served on the board for eight years, including one year as board chair. WRC operates the Norman Shelter for Battered Women, the Rape Crisis Center and a counseling and referral service for women.
• Chaired the fund-raising committee for Women's Resource Center for seven years and for 17 years has coordinated an annual event that raises more than $10,000 annually for the Center.
• She is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and serves on one committee.
• Has helped with the publicity efforts for the Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity Women Build and the local American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days and Relay for Life.
• Was a board member and officer on LinkNorman, an initiative that promoted community dialogues.
• She is an active participant in the annual Secret Santa program for children in DHS system.
Copp offered final thoughts on her Hall of Fame honor.
“This career and profession is not one that will make you wealthy in monetary terms, but the riches I have received are without compare," stated Copp. “I would like to congratulate the other inductees in the Class of 2012 and again say thank you to all those who were involved in my receiving this amazingly wonderful honor.”
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 – by Ann King (The Sage Colleges)
Fri. 16: Debbie Copp (University of Oklahoma): CoSIDA Hall of Fame
Mon. 19: Chuck Sadowski (University of Bridgeport): 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: John Lewandowki (Michigan State): 25-Year Award
Wed. 28: Kennan Timm (Wisconsin-Oshkosh): CoSIDA Hall of Fame
April
Mon., 2: Tom Di Camillo (Pac West Conference, Central Arizona College): CoSIDA Hall of Fame
Wed., 4: Dave Wohlhueter (CoSIDA treasurer, Cornell-retired): Lester Jordan Award
Fri., 6: B.L. Efring (Southern Maine): 25-Year Award
Mon., 9: Lawrence Fan (San Jose State): CoSIDA Hall of Fame and Arch Ward Award
Wed., 11: Sue Edson (Syracuse): CoSIDA Hall of Fame
Fri., 13: Mark Bankert (Malone University): 25-Year Award
Mon., 16: Joe Dier (Mississippi State): 25-Year Award
Wed., 18: Rich Herman (Clarion): Bob Kenworthy Award
Fri., 20: Shirley Jones Hill (Southern Mississippi): 25-Year Award
Mon., 23: Shelly Poe (Ohio State): Trailblazer Award
Wed., 25: Michael MacEachern (Young Harris College): 25-Year Award
Fri. 27: Roy Pickerill (Kentucky Wesleyan): 25-Year Award
Mon., 30: Bob Noss (Wright State): 25-Year Award
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