CLEVELAND - The National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) is seeking nominations for its Emerging Athletics Administrator, Transitioning Athletics Administrator, Community Service Awards and the Richard A. Rasmussen Lifetime Achievement Award. The awards will be presented on Thursday, Jan. 15 at the NADIIIAA reception during the 2026 NCAA Convention in Washington, DC. The deadline to submit nominations for the awards is Friday, November 7th.

Emerging Athletics Administrator (Nomination Form)
Recipient will be presented with a $1,000 professional development grant
Description: Recognizes an individual who is a rising star in Division III athletics administration.
Criteria:

• Is an active member of NADIIIAA.
• Has five (5) or less years of cumulative experience as a titled athletics administrator
• Is employed full-time at a Division III institution or conference office
• Is employed as a titled athletics administrator with substantial and/or primary responsibilities related to the administration of the athletics department
• Demonstrates involvement and/or leadership roles on campus and in the community (specific examples should be provided)
• Demonstrates a commitment to professional development
• Selection will focus on the work and responsibility of the individual as an administrator

Transitioning Athletics Administrator Award (Nomination Form)
Recipient will be presented with a $1,000 professional development grant
Description: Recognizes a full-time staff member and has assumed substantive administrative duties in the athletics program. 
Criteria: 

• Active member of NADIIIAA
• Employed full-time at a Division III institution or conference office
• Formal/official administrator title not required, though evidence of impactful administrative tasks and responsibilities should be outlined in nomination
• Demonstrates involvement and/or leadership roles on campus and in the community (examples should be included)
• Demonstrates a commitment to professional development 
• Emphasis in the nomination should be targeted towards value of administrative tasks and duties in the athletics program
• Open to any staff member satisfying the above criteria; no limit on years of service

 
Community Service Awards
NADIIIAA will make up to a $1,000 contribution to the general scholarship fund of the winning institutions.
Description: Recognizes athletics programs and student-athletes' contributions to surrounding communities through volunteerism and broad-scale engagement. Examples may include partnering with local non-profits or businesses in support of a particular cause or program. 

Nominations will be considered in the following three award categories: (click to view nomination forms)
One-Time Project or Activity
Special Olympics Activity
Community Partnership Award 
 
Criteria (for each): 

• Evidence of meaningful engagement with stakeholders in the surrounding community 
• Demonstrated breadth of partnership across the department (measured by percentage of total teams involved)
• Duration of partnership, e.g., one-time event compared to monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, etc. 
• Statement of impact via letter of support from agency benefiting from the service and/or student-athlete reflection on the activity 

Richard A. Rasmussen Lifetime Achievement Award (Nomination Form)
Description: Named for the University Athletic Association executive director and founder of NADIIIAA, this award is presented to athletics administrators who have dedicated their professional career to the advancement of Division III. Recipients are individuals who best exemplify the leadership and service that has made a significant impact on DIII as demonstrated by Richard (Dick) Rasmussen during his tenure as an athletics administrator.
Criteria:

• Active or retired Division III athletics administrator
• Minimum of 20 years as a Division III athletics administrator

Any questions regarding the awards should be directed to Cam Trudell in the NACDA National Office.

About NADIIIAA: NADIIIAA athletics administrators from over 350 institutions and conferences competing at the NCAA Division III level. The Association encourages the continued development of athletics programs focused on the student-athlete and based on sound educational principles and the Division III philosophy. NADIIIAA is administered by NACDA, which is in its 60th year. For more information on NACDA, the 18 professional associations and/or three foundations it manages, please visit www.nacda.com.