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CSC Unite 2026 Attendance Grant Recipients and NCAA Inclusion Grant Winners Announced

From more than 130 applicants, 22 members of College Sports Communicators have been selected to receive a CSC Unite 2026 Convention Attendance Grant and will attend the association's annual convention at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas on June 7-10, 2026.

For 15 of the recipients, it will be their first or second CSC Unite convention. Seven of the 22 grant recipients have five or more years of experience in the profession, and nine have been CSC members for three or less years.

Each grant includes a complimentary convention registration, and up to $1,000 per recipient to be reimbursed for expenses related to travel, lodging and meals.
 
The selection committee is composed of the CSC Executive Board of Directors, staff and leaders of special interest groups within the association.

As part of receiving a grant, each winner will assist on-site at the convention with registration, the social media content team, ticket distribution at social events and/or the operations team.
 
“The convention grant program reflects CSC’s ongoing commitment to access, inclusion, and professional development. We congratulate the 22 recipients selected for 2026 and look forward to their participation at the annual convention. By supporting our members’ ability to attend, connect, and learn, CSC continues to invest in the future of college sports communications,” noted CSC Executive Director Jason Yaman.
 
This is the 11th year of the CSC convention attendance grant program. Nearly $190,000 has been distributed to 238 CSC members as reimbursement for convention-related costs over the program's first decade.

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, which brought the total number of grants given by CSC to 22. The Board also increased the stipend to $1,000.


Eighth Year of Partnership with the NCAA for NCAA Inclusion CSC Convention Program

In addition to the CSC grants, 6 members from the three NCAA divisions will attend the convention as part of the NCAA Inclusion CSC Convention Grant program. In the eighth 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 leadership opportunities during the academic year for individuals from an array of backgrounds (e.g., veterans, first generation college students, individuals from rural, suburban, and urban areas, etc.). The program includes a visit to the NCAA national office and pairs recipients with a CSC mentor for the upcoming academic year, in addition to covering registration fees, hotel and travel accommodations.
 
“Investing in our profession and providing support to the future of our membership are the most important aspects of the CSC Unite Attendance Grant and NCAA Inclusion Grant programs,” said Purdue University Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Communications and 2025-26 CSC President Patrick Crawford. “Our convention is the greatest opportunity for professional development that so many in our membership look forward to on an annual basis. Our ability, in partnership with the NCAA, to give this opportunity to so many professionals in our space is a pivotal part of our core mission.”

 

2026 CSC Unite Convention Attendance Grant Recipients
Nick Astalos Director of Athletic Communications & Marketing Capital University	Taylor Brown Associate Director of Sports Information & Media Relations Gannon University	Jessica Burg Assistant Director, Strategic Communications Yale University	Clarisa Cruz Assistant Director of Athletic Communications UTRGV	Han Diep Athletics Communications Assistant Columbia University
Robyn Griffin Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications Indiana University Northwest	Jamie Halloran Director of Communications Great Midwest Athletic Conference	Lauren Hertle Intern Ohio Athletic Conference	Zach Howard Assistant AD - Video & Creative Dartmouth College	Jamie Howieson Communications & Marketing Strategist University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus
Devin Knight Director of Athletic Communications College of Coastal Georgia	Emily Li Student Intern Slippery Rock University	Danielle McCarthy Director of Athletic Communications Franklin Pierce University	Patrick Murphy Athletics Communications Coordinator Colorado School of Mines	Sophia Nduwayo Assistant Sports Information Keiser University
Anthony O'Hagan Sports Information Director Monroe University - Bronx	Megan Powers Communications Specialist Mt. San Antonio College	Olivia Rogers Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Manhattanville University	Sara Ropski Director, Athletic Communications Stevenson University	Khalil Stewart Director of Social Media & Creative Content Alabama State University
Sammi Wellman Director of Sports Information Riverside City College	Darin Yrigoyen Assistant AD, Strategic and Brand Communications Florida International University
NCAA Inclusion CSC Unite Convention Grant Recipients
Adekale Ande Pacific Lutheran University Division III	Yancy Flores St. Edward's University Division II	Sedric Granger Jr. University of Maryland Eastern Shore Division I
Terica Peay Albany State University (Ga.) Division II	River Roof University of California, San Diego Division I	Delvin Wilson University of Dallas Division III