The purpose of this award is to regionally recognize outstanding students who are employed by collegiate recreation departments on university and college campuses.  The award is intended to identify undergraduate and graduate students who “set the standard” or “epitomize leadership” on campuses across the region.

General Eligibility
The award is available for both undergraduate and graduate students with plans to pursue a career in collegiate recreation.  Applicants will not be considered if the individual is a past scholarship recipient, does not hold current NIRSA membership, or they do not meet the application deadline.

Each institution may nominate up to five (5) undergraduate and three (3) graduate students.

A maximum of two (2) students may be selected per school.

The scholarship form, cover letter, and resume accompanied by a letter of support submitted by a current NIRSA Professional Member and full-time collegiate recreation professional (and endorsed by up to three full-time professionals), should be submitted for each nominee. The scholarship form should address the specific criteria in each category listed for undergraduate or graduate students respectively. The cover letter should be limited to one page and highlight the nominee’s service to his/her institution, state and/or NIRSA and how that has prepared them to achieve his/her professional collegiate recreation goals. Letters of support should detail the nominee’s contributions to recreation (on-campus or NIRSA). Submission of the letter of support serves notice that the NIRSA Professional Member has verified the overall grade point average of the scholarship nominee and meets all qualifying criteria.

Selection 
The selection committee is comprised of five (5) professional NIRSA Region II members who have received the Horace Moody Award, recognizing professional members who have made contributions to student development by their encouragement, support, and performance.  If there are not five (5) former award winners within the region, the Region II Member Network Representative will appoint at-large members at their discretion.

Undergraduate Student Criteria

1. Each nominee must be a full-time undergraduate student on a university/college campus at the time of nomination or may have graduated from a university/college campus within the academic year that the award is being bestowed.
2. Nominees must be a current or recent employee of the collegiate recreation department on their campus.
3. Nominees must be a student member of NIRSA.
4. Nominees must have demonstrated scholarship or professional development through research, honors, self-improvement, continuing education, certifications, presentations, participation in professional organizations (e.g., internships, NIRSA membership, CPR/First Aid).
5. Nominees must have demonstrated involvement in department service through participation in student organizations, employee/campus recreation advisory board representative, committee work, community/campus activity, or leadership in employee training or orientation programs, etc.
6. Nominees must have demonstrated service to the NIRSA through committee work, regional/state workshop host committee, working at extramural events within the state/region, etc.

Graduate Student Criteria

1. Each nominee must be a graduate student on a university/college campus at the time of nomination or may have graduated from a university/college campus within the academic year that the award is being bestowed.
2. Nominees must be a current or recent employee of the collegiate recreation department on their campus.
3. Nominees must be a student member of NIRSA.
4. Nominees must have demonstrated scholarship or professional development through research, honors, self-improvement, continuing education, certifications, presentations, participation in professional organizations (e.g., internships, NIRSA membership, CPR/First Aid).
5. Nominees must have demonstrated involvement in department service through participation in student organizations, employee/campus recreation advisory board representative, committee work, community/campus activity, or leadership in employee training or orientation programs, etc.
6. Nominees must have demonstrated service to the NIRSA through committee work, regional/state workshop host committee, working at extramural events within the state/region, etc

Notification
Scholarship applicants will be notified of the results in mid-September.  Questions and inquiries should be directed to the Region II Member Network Representative (r2rep@nirsaleaders.org).

Recognition
Each recipient will receive a scholarship to aid in attending the NIRSA Region II Conference.  Each recipient will be contacted by a representative of the NIRSA Foundation concerning registration.

Award recipients and their institutions are recognized at the NIRSA Region II Conference, during the Regional Member Network Connection Meeting.