Download event photos, session documents and downloads from CSC Unite 2026
story by Marlee Ressa, 2025-26 CSC Communications Assistant
video by Marlee Ressa, videography by Patrick Dieterlen, photography by Sofiia Briantseva
The final day of CSC Unite 2026 opened with two sessions of our Wednesday Workshops. The workshops included a hands-on look at using AI to streamline storytelling led by Founder and CEO of FanWord Chris Aumueller. CSC Past President
Jessica Poole led a workshop on how to craft a personal statement with defining moments, value, and experiences. Adobe was also present at the workshop with
Karina Anglada and
Eric Rowse guiding participants through a challenge that worked to help create problem-solving skills while image/video editing. The last workshop gave attendees a chance to strengthen their public speaking skills with the help of session leader
Chris Gargano.
We hope that each of our 703 attendees were able to learn and grow from each session that they attended and return to their universities feeling refreshed and ready for the next challenge.
Our convention concluded with the CSC Special Awards Luncheon.
Here, we honored our
2026 CSC 25-Year Award recipients, the
2025-26 CSC Inclusion Fellowship Class,
CSC 30 Under 30 Class of 2025, the
2026 ChangeMaker Innovation Award winners, the
2025-26 Creative & Digital Design Contest winners, and the
President’s Award recipients, the
Bill Esposito Backbone Award, the
Bud Nangle Award, the
Achievement Award, and
Rising Star Award recipients.
One of the surprise announcements, the recipients of the 2026 President's Awards, as determined by President
Patrick Crawford, were
Mary Beth Challoner,
Nick Joos,
Kristen Keller,
Chad Moller,
Maria Slovikovski,
Mike Williams and
Chuck Yahng.
2025-26 Content Creators of the Year present included Ellis Dunn (Colorado Mesa), Jard McFarlane (GLVC), Margaret Mosher (Georgia) and Sophia Nduwayo (Keiser). Pictured with CSC Third VP Brent Ingram and committee chair Patrick Murphy.
While all other awards recipients had been previously announced by CSC, the Creative & Digital Design Contest winners were announced in person for the first time. Amongst the award winners was CSC Unite 2026 Content Team grant recipient
Sophia Nduwayo! Nduwayo accepted her award as the Designer of the Year - College Division - for her design work at Keiser University.
Congratulations to all of the CSC Special Award winners!
Patrick Crawford (left) officially passed the presidental gavel to incoming 2026-27 President Matt Panto.
The luncheon ended with the gavel pass from Past President
Patrick Crawford to 2026-27 CSC President
Matt Panto.
“It is an incredible privilege to serve and evolve this profession with each of you,” said Panto in his closing remarks. “And I hope that together we can continue this momentum, the energy and the advocacy that CSC brings to each of us and celebrate the invaluable work that all communicators and creatives bring to college sports.”