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Twenty-two 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 14 of the recipients, it will be their first CoSIDA convention. Five recipients are in their first year of CoSIDA membership.
This year’s class of recipients will be the fifth group of members to participate. After this year’s convention, approximately $80,000 will have been distributed to 94 CoSIDA members as reimbursement for convention-related costs.
The program began in 2014 when 10 recipients were selected and doubled in size for 2015 and 2016 with grants worth $800 apiece. Beginning last year, the Board of Directors voted to add two more grants specifically designated for ethnic minorities. That brought the total number of grants given by CoSIDA in 2017 and 2018 to 22. This year, the Board also agree to increase the stipend to $1,000.
Two current CoSIDA Board members utilized the grant. In 2014, first vice president Rob Knox was a recipient while at Coppin State. In 2016, Amie Canfield of Mt. Holyoke was a recipient.
Each grant includes a complimentary convention registration, allowing the grant funds to go toward hotel nights, transportation and per diem. The 2018 convention will be held June 27-30 at the Gaylord National in Washington D.C.
Athletics communicators from Division I (eight), Division II (three), Division III (five), NAIA (three), two-year colleges (one) and Canada’s USports (one) are represented. Regional, gender and ethnic diversity is represented as well. Of the 22 winners, 12 have been CoSIDA members for five years or less, while five have been CoSIDA members for 10 years or more.
This year saw a record 103 applicants submit a personal letter indicating their interest in attending and what they hope to learn at the convention. 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.
2018 CoSIDA Convention Attendance Grant Recipients
David Ambrose, Post University
Denise Archetto, Stonehill College
Sheila Blackman, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Kirsten Carney, Westminster College
Danny Elizondo, University of Texas Rio Grande
Matthew Fenton, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Jonathan Goldberg, ECAC
Katie Gonzales, Eastern Michigan University
Travis Jarome, Alabama State University
Jennifer Jones, Birmingham-Southern College
Cassie Kelley, Point Loma Nazarene University
Jeri Nagle, Grand View University
Dan Ryan, Bethune-Cookman University
Chandler Simpson, Furman University
Wade Steinlage, William Penn University
Jenny Stephens, Oswego State
Denise Thompson, Big Sky Conference
Michelle Van Dorn, University of Northern Iowa
Maura Vizza, Moraine Valley Community College
Jerek Wolcott, Carroll College
2018 CoSIDA Ethnic Minority Convention Attendance Grant Recipients
Ali Baggott, University of Victoria
Corey Miggins, Chicago State University