REPORT OF THE
NCAA HONORS COMMITTEE
ACTION ITEM.
Theodore
Roosevelt Award.
(1) Recommendation. Amend the Theodore Roosevelt Award
nomination criteria to permit the nominations of former female student-athletes
who participated in competitive, intercollegiate athletics, rather than
requiring receipt of a varsity athletics award, effective immediately.
(2) Rationale. The committee is seeking to revise the existing criteria to accommodate nominations for female student-athletes who were not awarded a varsity athletics award at the time of their intercollegiate competition. Awarding varsity athletics awards to female student-athletes has become increasingly common only since 1983, when the NCAA began offering championship competition in women’s sports. The decision to begin awarding varsity athletic awards to female student-athletes was implemented on an institution by institution basis. The committee would also require nominees, barring extenuating circumstances, to have graduated from an NCAA member institution.
The revised criteria would read as
follows:
The Theodore Roosevelt Award
shall be presented annually to a distinguished citizen of national reputation
and outstanding accomplishment who--having graduated from an NCAA member institution and having earned
a varsity athletics award in college or having participated in competitive
intercollegiate athletics in college*--has by a continuing interest
and concern for physical fitness and competitive sport and by personal example
exemplified most clearly and forcefully the ideals and purposes to which
collegiate athletics programs and amateur sports competition are
dedicated."
*Allowing nominations for and
consideration of those female student-athletes who may not have been awarded a
varsity athletics award for participation in intercollegiate athletics.
(3) Budget Impact. None