The committee wishes to create and add a new award, the Inspirational Award, to the existing honors program. This award would be presented as warranted, and not necessarily on an annual basis.

The NCAA Inspirational Award may be presented to a coach or administrator currently associated with intercollegiate athletics, or to a current or former varsity letter-winner at an NCAA institution who, when confronted with a life-altering situation used perseverance, dedication and determination to overcome the event and now serves as a role model to give hope and inspiration to others in similar situations.

Award nomination criteria:

• Provide a detailed description of the nature of the life-altering situation and effect on the individual's life.
• Degree of difficulty to overcome obstacles and level of determination and perseverance.
• Goals reached in spite of setbacks and obstacles.
• Contribution of individual to community and society.
• Inspirational value felt by others.

Nominations would be accepted beginning September 2001. The award presentation would be similar to that of the Award of Valor and would be presented at the NCAA Honors Dinner. The Inspirational Award would be presented as warranted and not automatically on an annual basis. Selection would be based on action occurring in the calendar year January-December immediately prior to the NCAA Honors Dinner.

The budget impact for the addition of this award would be $8,205 per award; however, the costs associated with the addition of this award would be covered by the inflationary increase requested for the honors budget.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association

March 23, 2001 KL