June 6, 2012

Randolph's Chagnon Earns ODAC Award

WildCat Professional Named Sports Information Director of the Year

FOREST, Va. --- Being honored by one’s peers is generally one of the best ways to be recognized, and Randolph College Sports Information Director Jamie Chagnon felt that gratification recently.

Chagnon was voted as the Old Dominion Athletic Conference SID of the Year at the league meeting in May.  The annual award is purely peer-driven, with the conference’s SIDs doing all the nominating and voting.

Chagnon, who is completing his second year at Randolph, was surprised when ODAC Assistant Commissioner J.J. Nekoloff announced him as the 2011-12 winner.

“It’s an honor to be named ODAC SID of the Year,” Chagnon said.  “I have the privilege of working in the best conference in Division III, and to receive an honor from my peers of whom I respect immensely means a lot to me.”

Eastern Mennonite University SID James De Boer, President of the ODAC Sports Information Directors Committee, said Chagnon’s professionalism stood out.

“Jamie is a great fit in the ODAC,” said De Boer.  “He has quickly earned a reputation for doing quality work and it’s a joy to see the many advancements he has accomplished in the Sports Information office at Randolph.”

Before coming to the Lynchburg, VA,-based school, Chagnon was an assistant SID at nearby Lynchburg College.  In two years, he has quickly helped the previously all-women’s school step up its promotional efforts.

Tina Hill, Athletics Director at Randolph, said she was proud of Chagnon for his work promoting the WildCats.

"Jamie has been a great addition to our community and has done an outstanding job at taking the responsibilities of the Sports Information office to new heights,” Hill explained.  “He works tirelessly and creatively to promote our athletics program as well as the College.  We are very appreciative of all that Jamie does on our behalf and are proud of his work and accomplishments.  He certainly is well deserving of this honor and is to be congratulated for a job well done."

Chagnon successfully promoted numerous games and other events involving Randolph College student-athletes, including a run by the men’s soccer team to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championships.  He oversaw a complete redesign of the recently-launched WildCats’ athletics website, and also completed his first year as Secretary of the ODAC Sports Information Directors Committee in 2011-12.

--- This release is courtesy of James De Boer (EMU), chair of the ODAC Sports Information Directors Committee. ---