LATHAM, NY – The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) are now accepting nominations for the 8th Annual Excelsior Award, an honor co-sponsored by both organizations.
“We are excited to team with CSEA once again to offer this award to those who go outside their daily routines to promote athletics in their community,” said NYSPHSAA Executive Director, Robert Zayas. “For eight years we’ve recognized individuals making a huge difference and this year we are looking forward to honoring a CSEA member in a NYSPHSAA school once again.”
The Excelsior Award was developed through a partnership between NYSPHSAA and CSEA to recognize a CSEA member in a NYSPHSAA school who has helped promote and foster athletic spirit in their local school district. The award also honors an individual who has displayed extraordinary dedication and support of high school athletics in any role as a parent, coach, booster or staff member volunteering or performing above and beyond their daily job in a school. CSEA has been a sponsor of NYSPHSAA’s high school state championships since 2003 and both organizations developed the award in 2010 in honor of CSEA’s 100th Anniversary.
“High school athletics make communities strong,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue. “CSEA members who work in school districts play an important role in supporting athletic programs in every part of New York but so do our members who are parents, coaches and boosters too.”
Nominations, which will be accepted through October 9th, can be found online at www.nysphsaa.org.
The 2017 Excelsior Award recipient will be honored at the NYSPHSAA Football Championships at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse November 24 and 26.
Previous Excelsior Award Winners:
2016- Jerry Flanagan, Long Lake School District
2015- Jill Bonesteel, Columbia School District
2014- Michael Paz, Newburgh Enlarged School District
2013- Jimmy Colgan, Johnson City School District
2012- Gary Van Asselt, Haldane Central School District
2011- Lisa Vanderburg, Levittown School District
2010- Judy Young, East Rochester School District
About NYSPHSAA (Twitter: @NYSPHSAA | Facebook: NYSPHSAA | YouTube: NYSPHSAASports):
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association Inc. is a non-profit, voluntary, educational service organization composed of public, parochial, and private schools dedicated to providing equitable and safe competition for the students of its member schools. The organization conducts 32 championship events and governs the rules and regulations of high school athletics in New York State. Membership is open to secondary schools providing interschool athletic activities for boys and girls in grades 7-12.
