Nicole Vargas

Last call for nominations for new Rising Star Award

By NICOLE VARGAS / San Diego Union-Tribune
USBWA Board Member
nicole.vargas@uniontrib.com

The time has come.

Maybe there is a young college-basketball beat writer with some talent covering a team in your conference.

Or sitting down press row is a college student or freelancer showing real promise.

Perhaps there a blog you frequent with fresh voices deserving of recognition.

Or you are relatively new to the business yourself, but in a short time have found your passion is covering the college game.

The USBWA is ready to unveil its newest honor, the Rising Star Award.

Debuting this spring, the award celebrates the future of our profession by honoring a member under the age of 30 who has displayed excellence in our craft and a desire to cover college basketball on a long-term basis.

Our hope is this award will not only increase the number of young members joining our organization, but throw open the door for the next generation of USWBA leaders to get involved.

That will start with the first winner, who will be asked to be a part of the committee selecting future honorees. The goal is to field a committee comprised entirely of past Rising Stars judging their peers.

We will honor the Rising Star Award winner at the annual USBWA awards breakfast.

Five finalists will receive certificates and be recognized through a news release.

Something like this can be a real boost to a young writer's resume.

But more importantly, we hope it will also be a boost to the USBWA.

Nominations are currently being accepted (self-nominations are welcome).

Candidates for this one-time honor must be under 30 on Jan. 1, 2010 and a current USBWA member.

The deadline to submit names is March 1. A committee is being formed.

Members interested in being a part of the process are invited to contact John Akers (johna19081@gmail.com).