College Sports Information Directors of America

25-Year Award
Presented to College Sports Communicators members who have completed 25 years in the athletics communications profession. Vetted and voted on by the Special Awards Committee. 

Alan Wickström — Wheaton College (Mass.) Director of Athletics Communication
 

"I am extremely grateful and humbled to be recognized for something I have been overjoyed to do for over 30 years. When I entered the profession, it was for my love of sport, but my motivation quickly centered around my passion for telling the story of thousands of student-athletes and dozens of dedicated coaches. I can never say enough how much John Wooding has meant to me as a professional. Without his influence as a role model in this profession, as well as his faith and confidence in me, there is no way I would be where I am right now. I am eternally grateful to him, one of the true legends and great guys in our profession." — Alan Wickström, 2026 CSC 25-Year Award recipient

Alan Wickström began his career in sports information as a student assistant at Seton Hall University in 1991, before enjoying stops as a sports information director or director of athletics communications at Fairleigh Dickinson University–Madison (1995–98), University of Massachusetts Boston (2000–10), Wheelock College (2011–14), Simmons University (2014–20) and Wheaton College (Mass.) (2021–present).

During his career, the New England native has been named Great Northeast Athletic Conference sports information director of the year in 2020 and Collegiate Water Polo Association Women’s Division III sports information director of the year in 2025. In addition, he has garnered institutional service and merit awards at FDU, UMass Boston, Simmons and Wheaton.

He has worked a number of NCAA championship events at all three divisions, as well as ACC women’s lacrosse and BIG EAST women’s basketball and men’s soccer tournament contests. Wickström has served as a district coordinator on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Committee since 2015. Wickström credits John Wooding, the former Seton Hall and Rutgers University SID, and Marie Wozniak, the former Saint Joseph’s University (Pa.) and current Rowan University SID, as his most important mentors in the profession.
 

Dan Campagna, Lesley University Director of Athletics: "This 25-year award reflects what Alan "Wick" Wickström has given every day — exceptional leadership, mentorship, and a commitment to developing and promoting others. I am grateful for the role Wick played in my own professional journey, and I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition. Early in my career, I was fortunate to learn under Wick — someone who didn’t just manage work but invested in people. His patience, high expectations, attention to detail, and steady encouragement pushed me to grow in ways I never expected. Looking back, much of my professional foundation was built during that time. This award is a fitting tribute to 25 years of leadership that truly changed lives. Wick has always held the "student-athlete first" mentality throughout his career and has found many ways and approaches to share the stories about what his student-athletes have accomplished season-to-season. Wick values equity in his coverage and makes sure that every sport gets the same game day experience at the highest level. Every student-athlete, coach or administrator that he's worked with knows how much he cares and we're all better people because of it. Thank you for everything, Wick, and congratulations on an incredibly well-deserved honor!"

Lisa Yenush, Wheaton College Athletics Interim Director of Athletics: "I have been in college athletics for over 25 years and I have never met anyone who works harder and takes more pride in their craft. He genuinely cares deeply about every student-athlete and colleague he works with. I have never met anyone willing to go the extra mile and take great care and detail to every aspect of their job. His passion is infectious and he truly loves what he does. There are a lot of great professionals in this industry, but there is no one I would rather have leading our Athletics Communication team than Wick."

Kent Cherrington, Babson College Assistant Director, Athletic Communications, CSC Hall of Fame (2020): "Alan has been an extremely dedicated athletics communication professional his entire career. It's hard to find anyone in our profession that cares as much or more about the student-athletes, coaches, and institutions where he works than Alan. He is driven to succeed and to do his best to promote those at his institution and does everything he can to elevate our profession. I'm proud to have worked with Alan in three different conferences."