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#CSCUNITE25 Convention Grant Information
2025 CSC Unite Attendance Grant Recipients and NCAA Inclusion Grant Winners Announced
From more than 140 applicants, 22 College Sports Communicators members have been selected to receive CSCUNITE25 Convention Attendance Grants and will attend the association's annual convention June 8-11 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Florida.
For 14 of the recipients, it will be their first CSC Unite convention. Eight of the 22 grant recipients have five or more years of experience in the profession, and five are first-year CSC members.
Each grant includes a complimentary convention registration, allowing the grant funds to go toward hotel nights, transportation and per diem.
The selection committee is composed of CSC officers, staff and members of special interest groups within the association.
As part of receiving a grant, each winner will help CSC's convention operations team with on-site duties and provide written reviews of their experience following the convention.
"With a commitment of more than $20,000 a year, CSC is investing in the future of our members and other aspiring professionals at a time when local resources may be limited," noted University of Arkansas S
enior Associate AD for Public Relations & Former Student-Athlete Engagement and 2024-25 CSC President Kevin Trainor. "We are excited to welcome all our outstanding grant recipients - those selected by CSC and those selected by the NCAA - to Orlando for CSCUnite25 in June."
This is the 10th year of the CSC convention attendee grant program. Nearly $165,000 has been distributed to 216 CSC members as reimbursement for convention-related costs over the program's first nine years.
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. That brought the total number of grants given by CSC to 22. The Board also increased the stipend to $1,000.
Seventh Year of Partnership With the NCAA For NCAA Inclusion CSC Convention Program
In addition to the CSC grants, six members from the three NCAA divisions will attend the convention as part of the NCAA Inclusion CSC Convention Grant program. In the seventh 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 diversity within the athletic communications profession. The program includes a visit to the NCAA national office and pairs recipients with a CSC mentor for the upcoming academic year on top of covering registration fees, lodging and transportation.
"We are pleased to again offer both CSCUNITE25 convention attendance grants and partner with the NCAA to award an additional six inclusion grants as well for those wanting to attend our annual convention," said CSC Interim Executive Director Will Roleson. "This annual grant program significantly benefits our sports communicators. Our funding for the opportunity to attend our annual conventions for learning and networking is an investment in a brighter future for both the attendees and the organization."
NCAA Division III CSC Student Program
There is more funding for sports communicators' professional development through NCAA Division III as well. Through the Division III CSC Student Program, the NCAA Division III governance staff will host students who are interested in the athletics communications profession during Divisional Day at CSC Unite. Selected students will be exposed to the convention, association members and the athletics communication profession. Grant recipients will attend welcome and debrief meetings and be assigned a mentor. The goal of the program is to build a pipeline in an effort to ultimately diversify the Division III athletics communication landscape.
| 2025 CSC UNITE Convention Attendance Grant Recipients |
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Sofiia Briantseva
Photographer - Sports Information
Emmanuel University
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Conlan Burk
Coordinator of Athletic Communications, Marketing, & In-Game Operations
Carroll College |
Patrick Duffy
Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
Stevens Institute of Technology
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Sarah Fajer
Director of Sports Communication
The College of Idaho
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Kristin Farris
Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations
Bemidji State University
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Hillary Fisher
Assistant Athletic Director, Communications
Anne Arundel Community College
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Aaron Johnson
Assistant Director of Media Services
Purdue Fort Wayne
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Jenna Jorgensen
Communications and Public Relations Coordinator
Stillwater Area Public School District |
Trevor Jossart
Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
Augustana College
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Jack MacDonald
Assistant AD for Communications
University of Southern Mississippi
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Matthew McIntosh
Assistant Athletic Communications Director
Shenandoah University
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Timothy McKinney
Sports Information Specialist
Triton College
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Chelsea Norris
Sr. Manager, Marketing, Communications and Events
Dalhousie University
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Cadence Pierce
Graduate Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
Wilmington College
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Dan Polischuk
Sports Information & Communications Coordinator
Wilfrid Laurier University
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Brooke Richards
Assistant Director of Strategic Communications
University of Northern Colorado
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Hannah Robb
Creative and Digital Media Strategist
St. Olaf College
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Jesse Soles
Assistant Sports Information Director and Internal Operations Manager
Francis Marion University
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Breanna Stalsitz
Director of Athletic Media Relations
Rhodes College
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Dante Thompson
Creative Social Media Intern
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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Michael Vesci
Director of Athletic Communications
Post University
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Shirell Washington
Assistant Sports Information Director
Randolph College
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| NCAA Inclusion CSC UNITE Convention Grant Recipients |
Jalon Avent
Middle Atlantic Conference
Division III
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Coreyon Chester
Texas Woman's University
Division II
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Clarisa Cruz
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Division I
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Dawnisha Franklin
Plattsburgh State University of New York
Division III
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Kensley Walters
Conference USA
Division I
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Devanée Williams
Eckerd College
Division II
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