Long-time San Jose State SID Lawrence Fan Receives 2017 CoSIDA President's Award
San Jose State University athletic media relations director Lawrence Fan and long-time chair of the CoSIDA Job Seekers committee was the recipient of the 2017 CoSIDA President's Award which was announced during the CoSIDA Convention's Special Awards luncheon on Wednesday, June 14.
The President's Award, which is not announced publically until the final day of the annual CoSIDA convention, was established two years ago to give the outgoing president an opportunity to recognize a CoSIDA committee member or members for their exemplary volunteer service and leadership within the organization's committee structure as they support programs that benefit CoSIDA members.
A member of CoSIDA since 1978, Fan was inducted into the organization's Hall of Fame in 2012.
He has served as San Jose State's SID since 1980, and is the founder of the CoSIDA Job Seekers Committee. Fan has headed the Job Seekers Committee as chair since 1994 and ended that tenure this June. With the assistance of a diverse group of committee members, Fan has organized and managed job fair activities at the annual convention. At the beginning of his committee chairmanship, he initiated and managed a CoSIDA job announcements/job transactions email; that has now evolved into a membership-wide CoSIDA.com Career Center jobs board and email blasts about job vacancies and transactions within the profession.
Outgoing CoSIDA President Andy Seeley (UCF) said this about Fan:
"I am so glad that I was able to present this award. Lawrence has worked tirelessly on behalf of those in our organization who are seeking jobs and career advice," noted Seeley. "He concludes his impressive long-term stint as the chairperson of the Job Seekers committee this year. He listens and is one of the truly best people in this profession. Lawrence is always striving to make CoSIDA the best organization he can."
In addition to his Hall of Fame honor and The President's Award, Fan also has been honored by CoSIDA with two other national honors. In 2012, he received the prestigious Arch Ward Award, recognizing a CoSIDA member who makes an outstanding contribution to the profession and who by his or her activities, brings dignity and prestige to the profession. In 2013, Fan was honored with CoSIDA's Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award, presented annually to an individual who is a pioneer in the profession and who has mentored and helped improve the level of ethnic and gender diversity within CoSIDA.
"CoSIDA has given a lot to me and giving back to the membership is easy, has been easy and will continue to be easy," Fan noted Wednesday after receiving this surprise honor. "I was stunned at the luncheon when Andy Seeley started talking about me. I did not know this award would be given, let alone to me."
"As I said to my committee members, chairing this committee has been fulfilling and fun," Fan concluded. "It's been said by many that the relationships that one can develop over time stand the test of time. How many other professional organizations are there where you can meet someone for 15 minutes years ago, continue to connect at conventions, and then have a friendship that develops from it and lasts 15 or 20 years? CoSIDA is a special, special organization and I am honored to serve."
Prior President's Award winners include: 2015: Debbie Copp, Oklahoma (former Committee on Committees chair); 2016: Strategic Communications study sub-group (Amie Canfield, Mount Holyoke; Jeff Hodges, North Alabama; Shelly Poe, Auburn; Dr. Geoff Sherman, formerly of Marian; Maurice Williams, Hampton.)