April 11, 2008
FAIRBANKS, AK- Alaska marketing and promotions assistant Sheena Cummings has been awarded a stipend by the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) that will allow her to attend the organization's national convention in Dallas, Texas on June 9-12. One of just four student members to receive the award, Cummings' stipend will help cover the cost of lodging and airfare as well as the cost of registration for the event.
"Sheena has been and continues to be an integral part of our marketing and promotions department," said Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs Patrick Lee, who works closely with Cummings in the day-to-day marketing operations of the university's athletic department. "She has really done a great job here and it is great for her to get this opportunity to attend the conference, as she is an excellent representative of the University of Alaska Fairbanks."
Cummings, who is currently pursuing a MBA degree after receiving her bachelor's in sport administration, joins representatives from Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Wisconsin-Green Bay in earning the student member stipend: the first year that NACMA has given such an award. Recipients had to be nominated by an NCAA staff member, and winners were then selected based on their achievements and personal accomplishments.
Along with Lee, Cummings has helped the Alaska marketing department earn three NACMA Best Of awards in her two-year tenure with the Nanooks. The department also captured the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's Marketing Campaign of the Year award for both the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.
"Our department is really starting to get a lot more national recognition for what we are doing here," said Lee, who will also be presenting at this year's conference. "We are honored and thankful for all our recent acknowledgements, including this most recent award, from NACMA and its numerous constituents from around the sports industry."
Cummings has also served on a number of committees since joining the Nanooks, including the past two BP Top of the World Classic tournament committees, the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational tournament committee, and the organizing committee for the 2007 NCAA National Rifle Championship, which set an NCAA record for attendance.
Held every year, the NACMA convention brings together the best and the brightest marketers from the world of athletics to provide participants with a variety of training seminars, guest lecturers and informative presentations as well as valuable networking opportunities. This year's convention will be held concurrently with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD), and International Collegiate Licensing Association (ICLA) conventions as well.
Dallas Cowboys president and general manager Jerry Jones will give the keynote address at this year's NACMA convention.
