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Story courtesy: NAIA.org
College Sports Communicators Alisha Alexander and Brad Cygan were honored with national NAIA awards for 2023. Alexander was also named a member of the CSC 30 Under 30 Class of 2022.
Sports Information Director of the Year: Alisha Alexander, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
The NAIA Sports Information Director of the Year is awarded annually to one SID based on accomplishments during the previous year in the areas of athletics communication, sports information, strategic communication and service to the NAIA.
The 2023 recipient of the NAIA Sports Information Director of the Year is Alisha Alexander of Lewis-Clark State (Idaho). A graduate of Concordia University in Irvine, Calif., Alexander has quickly risen to the top in her profession. Since her arrival at LC State, Alexander has been no stranger to the big stage, as she has hosted several conference championships, NAIA National Championship Opening Round and First & Second Round tournaments, along with her role in both the planning and execution of the Avista NAIA World Series for the past five years.
In addition to her role in the production of the LC Awards Program (the LCSPY’s), she takes a large planning role in all fundraising efforts for Warrior Athletics. In 2022, Alexander was elected to the NAIA-SIDA Executive Board, where she has taken a large role in Continuing Education Programming. Her work has also led her to be named to the inaugural class of the College Sports Communicators’ 30 Under 30 Honors.
“Ms. Alisha Alexander is a quality person and professional, said Lewis-Clark State Director of Athletics, Brooke Henze. “She works hard, works smart and delivers results. She is compassionate and passionate about intercollegiate sport and the positive difference it can and does make in the lives of student-athletes. She's highly deserving of this recognition and award.”
Clarence "Ike" Pearson SID Award: Brad Cygan, NAIA
Given annually to a member of the NAIA Sports Information Directors Association (NAIA-SIDA), the Clarence “Ike” Pearson Award honors outstanding contributions to the profession. The award is named in honor of the former statistical crew chief of the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in Kansas City, Mo.
The 2023 recipient of the NAIA-SIDA Clarence “Ike” Pearson Award is Brad Cygan, Director of Athletics Communications at the NAIA National Office. His undergraduate was from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo. and his graduate studies from Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Mo. He has guided the NAIA’s media and communications coverage of over 28 championship, invitational and emerging sport in the association. Brad’s impact on the profession of sports communicators is seen daily as he works with representatives from all 250 schools and 21 conferences. He has identified and facilitated the advancement of integral national partnerships including, PrestoSports, Reely, BoxOut Sports, to name a few, as well as the local media coverage of the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championships hosted annually at Municipal Auditorium in Downtown Kansas City.
In addition to his duties to the National Office, Cygan was an influential member of NAIA-SIDA during his time at Missouri Baptist University. An inductee into the MBU Spartan Hall of Fame in 2022, he built the MBU Communications Department from the ground up culminating in being named the American Midwest Conference SID of the Year in 2015 and then earned the recognition of NAIA SID of the Year the same year. Active in NAIA-SIDA, he served on the board as an at-large representative in 2016 and was elected to the NAIA-SIDA Board of Directors in 2017. Cygan has served as a panelist and presenter at multiple College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly CoSIDA) Conventions and picked-up first place in the NAIA-SIDA Publication Contest in the Season Preview category for his preview of MBU Baseball in 2013.
“Brad has always been a forward thinker and has pushed to find ways to promote his school, and now the NAIA,” said former Ike Pearson recipient and Assistant Commissioner for Championships and Information at the Appalachian Athletic Conference, Jay Stancil. “In the five years, he has been with the NAIA National Office, he has elevated the organization’s status and has shined a light on all the innovators we have in our ranks. The professionalism Brad brings is second-to-none and he is constantly and tirelessly working to enhance the NAIA’s reach.”