LATHAM, N.Y. - Gallaudet University Associate Athletic Director for Communications, Sam Atkinson, was awarded the Warren Berg Award by the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) earlier this month.

Presented annually to a CSC college division (NCAA DII, DIII, NAIA, Two-year Colleges, and Canadian/U Sports) member who has made outstanding contributions to the field of college sports information, and who by his or her activities, has brought dignity and prestige to the profession.

A former CSC president, Atkinson enters his 13th year at Gallaudet University, the world’s only university in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students. In April 2017, he was promoted to associate athletic director for communications after four years as assistant AD for communications after being hired as sports information director. Under Atkinson’s leadership, the Gallaudet Athletic social media platforms were ranked No. 1 by a Division III social media tracking website for four consecutive years (2014-18) for its posts and engagement, and @GallaudetBison remains one of the top brands in Division III due to its social media activity. Several national coaches associations have honored Atkinson for his outstanding media relations and social media skills for promoting Gallaudet Athletics over the years.

 

Atkinson has been heavily involved on the national level with College Sports Communicators for more than a decade. Atkinson was appointed to the CSC Board of Directors in June 2015 for a three-year term. After two years on the board, he was elected as CSC’s third vice president in June 2017. He became the organization’s president in 2020-21, becoming only the second Division III member to become President in the 60+ year history of the organization.

 

On the national scene, Atkinison currently serves on the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Committee. Atkinson previously was named to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball National Committee (2016-20) where he served a four-year term, the last two as committee chair.

  

During Atkinson’s time on the CSC Board he served on the CSC Convention Programming Committee, CSC Appreciation Week Committee, CSC Diversity and Inclusion Committee, CSC’s Academic All-America Hall of Fame Selection Committee and was the board liaison with the Goodwill and Wellness Committee, Programming/Professional Development Committee.

 

Atkinson was the chair of the CSC Goodwill and Wellness Committee for eight years and still is an active committee member. Atkinson and his committee members established and orchestrated six national community service projects at conventions, beginning with in San Antonio (2009) with the San Antonio Food Bank.

 

In 2011, he helped to organize CSC’s first-ever 5K run/walk at Marco Island, Fla., where nearly 100 people participated and over $1,600 and hundreds of clothing items were donated to St. Matthew’s House in Naples, Fla. The convention 5K run/walks have continued, with CSC and NACDA participants and thousands of dollars raised for charity and community service projects based in those convention city communities. 

 

Atkinson arrived at Gallaudet on July 6, 2009 from Salisbury University where he served in the same position for three years

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The United East has nine NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Gallaudet University, Lancaster Bible College, Morrisville State, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland and Wells College. The United East also includes three associate members in the sport of men’s golf including Clarks Summit University, Rosemont College, Rutgers University – Camden and Wilson College. Clarks Summit University is also an associate member in the sport of men’s tennis. The United East has also partnered with the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in the sports of men's and women's lacrosse. For more information, please visit: gounitedeast.com