September 25, 2023
Division II releases nominations for 50th Anniversary Gold Award
231 individuals recognized
Division II schools and conferences have submitted a total of 231 nominations for the 50th Anniversary Gold Award.
This award, which is part of the division's yearlong 50th anniversary celebration that launched Aug. 7 and will extend through the 2024 Division II Baseball Championship in June, will recognize two individuals (one individual who identifies as male and one who identifies as female) who have made a positive impact in Division II.
The nominees include current and former student-athletes, coaches, faculty members and administrators from active member schools and conferences who have helped shape Division II over time.
"The nominees reflect the considerable impact so many individuals have had on intercollegiate athletics over the years but also the pride the Division II membership demonstrates consistently in providing the experiences that enable young people to make a positive difference in the world," said Terri Steeb Gronau, vice president of Division II.
Conference offices will review the nominated individuals and select two conference winners (one individual who identifies as male and one who identifies as female) by Nov. 6. The NCAA Division II Management Council Identity Subcommittee will review the finalists and select the two overall winners, who will be recognized at the 2024 NCAA Convention in Phoenix.
"The quality of nominees will certainly make it challenging for the Division II Identity Subcommittee to recommend just two Gold Award recipients," Steeb Gronau said. "It truly is eye-opening to read through the candidates' accomplishments and realize how their contributions have made us better as a division."
As part of the anniversary celebration, Division II also will provide a commemorative scholarship opportunity for student-athletes from active member schools who exhibit the core values of Division II and have not yet exhausted their athletics eligibility. Two recipients from each conference and two representing the independent institutions will be announced in May during the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in Orlando, Florida. Nomination procedures for the scholarship will be announced to the Division II membership in January.
To learn more about Division II's 50th anniversary celebration, visit ncaa.org/dii50.
50th Anniversary Gold Award nominees
| Name | School | Conference |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Hiegert | California Collegiate Athletic Association | |
| Violet Palmer | California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | California Collegiate Athletic Association |
| Kim Duyst | California State University, Stanislaus | California Collegiate Athletic Association |
| Daniel Mara | Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference | |
| Bernadette Laukaitis | Holy Family University | Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference |
| Mike McLaughlin | Holy Family University | Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference |
| Tom Shirley | Thomas Jefferson University | Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference |
| Jacqueline McWilliams | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | |
| Clyde Doughty Jr. | Bowie State University | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| LaTaya Hilliard-Gray | Elizabeth City State University | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Carolyn Anderson | Winston-Salem State University | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Clarence E. Gaines | Winston-Salem State University | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Venetta Wilson Jagan | Belmont Abbey College | Conference Carolinas |
| Michael Reidy | Belmont Abbey College | Conference Carolinas |
| Jenn Bell | Converse University | Conference Carolinas |
| Annamaria Karai Meadows | Francis Marion University | Conference Carolinas |
| Oshada Wijemanne | Francis Marion University | Conference Carolinas |
| Brenda Cates | University of Mount Olive | Conference Carolinas |
| Carl Lancaster | University of Mount Olive | Conference Carolinas |
| Dee Major Hardy | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Conference Carolinas |
| Dan Kenney | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Conference Carolinas |
| Ilija Ilic | Young Harris College | Conference Carolinas |
| Mackenzie Johnson | Young Harris College | Conference Carolinas |
| Robert Dranoff | East Coast Conference | |
| Brian Sweeney | Mercy University | East Coast Conference |
| Susan Cassidy-Lyke | Molloy University | East Coast Conference |
| Richard Wettan | Queens College (New York) | East Coast Conference |
| Eddie Jackson | Great American Conference | |
| B.J. Bayer | Arkansas Tech University | Great American Conference |
| Aoife Cooke | Arkansas Tech University | Great American Conference |
| Edith Musebe-Berry | Henderson State University | Great American Conference |
| Kevin Rodgers | Henderson State University | Great American Conference |
| Drew Beard | Southeastern Oklahoma State University | Great American Conference |
| Cherrie Wilmoth | Southeastern Oklahoma State University | Great American Conference |
| Jordan Babineaux | Southern Arkansas University | Great American Conference |
| Brooke Goad | Southern Arkansas University | Great American Conference |
| Hailey Tucker | Southwestern Oklahoma State University | Great American Conference |
| Hayley Kreiger | Davenport University | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Isaiah Schafer | Davenport University | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Jason Vander Laan | Ferris State University | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Tina Muir | Ferris State University | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Tim Selgo | Grand Valley State University | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Jason Bingaman | Lake Superior State University | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Kris Dunbar | Lake Superior State University | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Jim Naumovich | Great Lakes Valley Conference | |
| Angela Red | Great Lakes Valley Conference | |
| Barbara Cowherd | Drury University | Great Lakes Valley Conference |
| Nina Caldwell | Maryville University of Saint Louis | Great Lakes Valley Conference |
| Mark Lombardi | Maryville University of Saint Louis | Great Lakes Valley Conference |
| Michelle Boyd | Truman State University | Great Lakes Valley Conference |
| Mike Cannon | Truman State University | Great Lakes Valley Conference |
| Dave Huffman | University of Indianapolis | Great Lakes Valley Conference |
| Sue Willey | University of Indianapolis | Great Lakes Valley Conference |
| Leslie Schuemann | Great Midwest Athletic Conference | |
| Tom Daeger | Great Midwest Athletic Conference | |
| Trevor Bassitt | Ashland University | Great Midwest Athletic Conference |
| Kari Pickens | Ashland University | Great Midwest Athletic Conference |
| Teresa Clark | Cedarville University | Great Midwest Athletic Conference |
| Bill Lundberg | Hillsdale College | Great Midwest Athletic Conference |
| Roy Pickerill | Kentucky Wesleyan College | Great Midwest Athletic Conference |
| Zane Colestock | Northwood University | Great Midwest Athletic Conference |
| Kate Dornbos | Northwood University | Great Midwest Athletic Conference |
| Cindy McKnight | Ursuline College | Great Midwest Athletic Conference |
| Lindsey Butterworth | Great Northwest Athletic Conference | |
| Travis Connell | Great Northwest Athletic Conference | |
| Adam Bighill | Central Washington University | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Samantha Bowman | Central Washington University | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Alisha Breen | Montana State University Billings | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Sam Charles | Montana State University Billings | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Ashley (Puga) Alexander | Northwest Nazarene University | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Julio Castillo | Northwest Nazarene University | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Scott Cairns | Seattle Pacific University | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Jessica Pixler Tebo | Seattle Pacific University | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Carlo Basso | Simon Fraser University | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe | Simon Fraser University | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Kendall Kramer | University of Alaska Fairbanks | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Abdullahi Mohamed | University of Alaska Fairbanks | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| David Ribich | Western Oregon University | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Bridget Johnson Tetteh | Western Oregon University | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| John Fuchs | Western Washington University | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Audrey Coon Schwind | Western Washington University | Great Northwest Athletic Conference |
| John Caldwell | Gulf South Conference | |
| Carl Stockton | Auburn University at Montgomery | Gulf South Conference |
| Larry Carpenter | Lee University | Gulf South Conference |
| Erin Hederman | Mississippi College | Gulf South Conference |
| Tom Williams | Mississippi College | Gulf South Conference |
| Mark Campbell | Union University | Gulf South Conference |
| Jada Smith | Union University | Gulf South Conference |
| Lennie Acuff | University of Alabama in Huntsville | Gulf South Conference |
| Les Stuedeman | University of Alabama in Huntsville | Gulf South Conference |
| Judith Bense | University of West Florida | Gulf South Conference |
| Richard Berg | University of West Florida | Gulf South Conference |
| Herb Reinhard | Valdosta State University | Gulf South Conference |
| Donald Elder | Eastern New Mexico University | Lone Star Conference |
| Alba Ontiveros | Eastern New Mexico University | Lone Star Conference |
| Steve Gomez | Lubbock Christian University | Lone Star Conference |
| Stacey Copeland | St. Edward's University | Lone Star Conference |
| Nick Cowell | St. Edward's University | Lone Star Conference |
| Donna Fields | St. Mary's University (Texas) | Lone Star Conference |
| Jill Willson | Texas A&M University-Kingsville | Lone Star Conference |
| Jo Kuhn | Texas Woman's University | Lone Star Conference |
| Howard Patterson | The University of Texas at Tyler | Lone Star Conference |
| Kendra Potts | West Texas A&M University | Lone Star Conference |
| Mike Racy | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association | |
| Sallie Beard | Missouri Southern State University | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association |
| Rod Smith | Missouri Southern State University | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association |
| Brian Moorman | Pittsburg State University | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association |
| Venessa (Lee) Nobles | Pittsburg State University | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association |
| Kathy Anderson | University of Central Missouri | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association |
| Jerry Hughes | University of Central Missouri | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association |
| Adam Dorrel | University of Central Oklahoma | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association |
| Reid Amos | Mountain East Conference | |
| Bren Stevens | University of Charleston (West Virginia) | Mountain East Conference |
| Ronald Davies | Adelphi University | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Danielle MacKnight | Adelphi University | Northeast-10 Conference |
| John Gibbons | American International College | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Kristen (Patterson) Hutchison | American International College | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Rita Castagna | Assumption University | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Andrew Laska | Assumption University | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Dallas Mall | Bentley University | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Barbara Stevens | Bentley University | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Cindy Arman | Franklin Pierce University | Northeast-10 Conference |
| David Chadbourne | Franklin Pierce University | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Kyle Van De Giesen | Saint Anselm College | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Carolyn King-Robitaille | Saint Anselm College | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Sue Duprat | Saint Michael's College | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Edward Markey | Saint Michael's College | Northeast-10 Conference |
| James Barber | Southern Connecticut State University | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Donna Lopiano | Southern Connecticut State University | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Amber Chandronnait | Southern New Hampshire University | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Stan Spirou | Southern New Hampshire University | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Steve Dagostino | The College of Saint Rose | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Cathy Cummings Haker | The College of Saint Rose | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Deborah Chin | University of New Haven | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Tony Mortali | University of New Haven | Northeast-10 Conference |
| Maggie McNamara | Concordia University, St. Paul | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference |
| Brady Starkey | Concordia University, St. Paul | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference |
| Karla Nelson | Minnesota State University Moorhead | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference |
| Larry Scott | Minnesota State University Moorhead | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference |
| Lori Meyer | Minnesota State University, Mankato | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference |
| Nate Breske | Northern State University | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference |
| Hannah Kastigar | Northern State University | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference |
| Butch Raymond | Southwest Minnesota State University | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference |
| Karen Stromme | University of Minnesota Duluth | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference |
| Bob Hogue | Pacific West Conference | |
| Bill Fusco | Dominican University of California | Pacific West Conference |
| Bob Brower | Point Loma Nazarene University | Pacific West Conference |
| David Brunk | Peach Belt Conference | |
| Diana Kling | Peach Belt Conference | |
| Mary Lisko | Augusta University | Peach Belt Conference |
| Marvin Vanover | Augusta University | Peach Belt Conference |
| Vince Alexander | Clayton State University | Peach Belt Conference |
| Maia Kuhnen | Clayton State University | Peach Belt Conference |
| Simon Earnshaw | Georgia College | Peach Belt Conference |
| Shanteona Keys | Georgia College | Peach Belt Conference |
| Zoe Willis | Georgia Southwestern State University | Peach Belt Conference |
| Joe Cabri | Lander University | Peach Belt Conference |
| Jami Cornwell | University of South Carolina Aiken | Peach Belt Conference |
| Randy Warrick | University of South Carolina Aiken | Peach Belt Conference |
| Tim Ebersole | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | |
| Pam Miller | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | |
| Jahri Evans | Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Jan Hutchinson | Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Denny Douds | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Sandy Miller | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Howard "Bud" Elwell | Gannon University | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Rona Nesbit | Gannon University | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Frank Cignetti | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Ruth Podbielski | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Judy Lawes | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Andre Reed | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Tom Justice | Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Sharon Taylor | Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Heather Long | Mansfield University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Steve McCloskey | Mansfield University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| John Leisering | Mercyhurst University | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Janet Price | Mercyhurst University | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| William Biddington | Pennsylvania Western University, California | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Madeleine McKenna | Pennsylvania Western University, California | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Don Leas | Pennsylvania Western University, Clarion | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Kristin (Day) Shute | Pennsylvania Western University, Clarion | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Stephanie Radecki | Pennsylvania Western University, Edinboro | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Doug Watts | Pennsylvania Western University, Edinboro | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Sam Hartman | Seton Hill University | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Mallory Sanner | Seton Hill University | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Jazmin (Petrantonio) Kuhn | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Steve Spence | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| George Mihalik | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| C. Vivian Stringer | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Pat Pecora | University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Deirdre Kane | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Bill Zwaan | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference |
| Barb Schroeder | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | |
| Joel Smith | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | |
| Mark Nore | Black Hills State University | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference |
| Casey Beran | Chadron State College | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference |
| Stachia Reuwsaat | Chadron State College | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference |
| Makenzie Middleton | Colorado Christian University | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference |
| Jeremy Gunn | Fort Lewis College | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference |
| Hayley Hollenga | Fort Lewis College | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference |
| Stephen Jordan | Metropolitan State University of Denver | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference |
| Audrey Bloomquist | University of Colorado, Colorado Springs | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference |
| William Ross | University of Colorado, Colorado Springs | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference |
| Jennifer Michel | Western Colorado University | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference |
| Doug Echols | South Atlantic Conference | |
| Eliane Kebbe | South Atlantic Conference | |
| Alexandra Mollenhauer | Anderson University (South Carolina) | South Atlantic Conference |
| Vickee Kazee-Hollifield | Carson-Newman University | South Atlantic Conference |
| Ken Sparks | Carson-Newman University | South Atlantic Conference |
| Michelle Caddigan | Catawba College | South Atlantic Conference |
| Jim Gantt | Catawba College | South Atlantic Conference |
| Lynn Griffin | Coker University | South Atlantic Conference |
| Myles Moffat | Lenoir-Rhyne University | South Atlantic Conference |
| Kate (Griewisch) Ryan | Lenoir-Rhyne University | South Atlantic Conference |
| Ahleasha McNeal | Lincoln Memorial University | South Atlantic Conference |
| Roger Vannoy | Lincoln Memorial University | South Atlantic Conference |
| Marty Gilbert | Mars Hill University | South Atlantic Conference |
| Maggie Langheim | Mars Hill University | South Atlantic Conference |
| Jasmine Gunn | Tusculum University | South Atlantic Conference |
| Doug Jones | Tusculum University | South Atlantic Conference |
| Ann Hancock | Wingate University | South Atlantic Conference |
| Steve Poston | Wingate University | South Atlantic Conference |
| Robert Skinner | Albany State University (Georgia) | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Destinee Langston | Savannah State University | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Alexa Garcia | Barry University | Sunshine State Conference |
| James Harley | Eckerd College | Sunshine State Conference |
| Hal Smeltzly | Florida Southern College | Sunshine State Conference |
| Lois Webb | Florida Southern College | Sunshine State Conference |
| Lauren Boudreau | Nova Southeastern University | Sunshine State Conference |
| Ray Ferrero Jr. | Nova Southeastern University | Sunshine State Conference |
| Pennie Parker | Rollins College | Sunshine State Conference |