2020 Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award

Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award

Founded in 1959, the NJCAA Service Award is the most tenured honor handed out by the association. It is given to those - most often not an athlete - who have made significant contributions to two-year college athletics on a national level for an extended period of time. Annually, one Service Award can be reserved for a member of the media. In 2017, the NJCAA renamed the honor to the Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award in recognition of the 28 years of dedicated service by its third Executive Director. To view a list of past winners, visit: Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award Winners

Kerri-Ann McTiernan – Nassau Community College (NY) | NJCAA Board of Regents

A staple in the NJCAA, Kerri-Ann McTiernan's consistent presence throughout the association has provided endless opportunities and initiatives that have impacted both administrators and student-athletes.

McTiernan's responsibilities have included a number of titles and leadership roles throughout the NJCAA. Along with McTiernan's position as a member of the NJCAA Board of Regents, McTiernan is the NJCAA Region XV Women's Director, a member of the NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball and Women's Soccer Committees, and former member of the NJCAA Football Committee.

McTiernan's most inspiring service comes as chair of the NJCAA Diversity and Inclusion Council, a newly formed council that has made tremendous strides for the association. McTiernan leads a team of 10 fellow athletic directors, National Office staff members, conference commissioners, and administrators that benefit the association in a multitude of capacities.

At Nassau, McTiernan serves as the Director of Athletics and guides a team of 60 individuals across 24 sports. McTiernan is responsible for overseeing and developing all aspects of the intercollegiate athletics program and Nassau's Physical Education Complex.

Dr. Jermaine Williams, President of Nassau, expressed his gratitude for McTiernan. "At Nassau Community College, we are so very proud that the NJCAA has chosen to honor Kerri-Ann McTiernan with the Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award. Through her tenure at the College, Kerri has made a lasting impact on the NCC community with her tireless dedication to ensuring our student-athletes have all the essential tools they need to excel with their academic and athletic endeavors.

I have only had the pleasure of working with Kerri for close to a year but in that short time, I have witnessed Kerri dedicate countless hours to ensuring the NCC Athletic Program continues to be a student-centered high quality nationally recognized program. Truly humbled and appreciative, Kerri is always enthusiastically supporting and encouraging her team of coaches and staff. Her dedication to the College, her passion for our student-athletes and her innovative drive make Kerri-Ann McTiernan the perfect honoree for the Mary Ellen Leicht Service Award."

McTiernan received her BA in Public Health Medicine from Johns Hopkins University and her MPA in Health Administration from LIU Brooklyn. McTiernan is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from St. John's University.  

Steve Carpenter – Hutchinson Community College (KS) | Sports Information Director

A tenured veteran in the sports information realm, Steve Carpenter has been the only full-time Sports Information Director the Hutchinson Blue Dragon community has known. In his 16^th year at the helm, Carpenter has provided an impact that has been felt at the local, regional, and national levels.

Home to some of the premier national championship events, Hutchinson is symbolic with the NJCAA. A reason for the success of those championships is Carpenter who oversees a wide range of responsibilities for the historic Division I men's basketball tournament, the Division I women's volleyball tournament, the Division I men's and women's outdoor track & field championships, and the Salt City Bowl. Carpenter guides a team of well-respected individuals that oversees game statistics, media coordination, and event management for each of these championships on an annual basis.

Hutchinson Athletic Director praised Carpenter's commitment to the Blue Dragons. "Steve Carpenter is as good as they come as a Sports Information Director. He is respected locally and nationally. Events that Hutchinson puts on or are hosted on our campus benefit from having Steve on staff. His ability to do so many tasks at a high level makes him the go-to person for a wide range of needs. Steve is a kind man that makes time for all and truly works hour upon hour to make sure all student-athletes, coaches, and teams get the recognition they deserve. The most unselfish part is he does it for those not only at Hutchinson but our conference, region, and NJCAA as a whole. 

The Blue Dragon nation loves Steve Carpenter and those that come to events hosted on the campus of Hutchinson all come to know just how valuable he is to the overall success. NJCAA coaches that return to the Sports Arena eagerly seek him out because of the time and effort they see Steve Carpenter devote to student-athletes each time they are here."

A guru of the historic Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC), Carpenter serves as the President of the KJCCC Sports Information Directors Association and is a voting member on all player of the week committees. Carpenter serves as the official men's golf scorer for the conference as well as the official scorer for all region postseason baseball and basketball tournaments.

The primary contact for all 14 sports at Hutchinson, Carpenter has continuously incorporated new initiatives that have increased the exposure for one of the most historic junior college programs in the nation. Carpenter oversees all aspects of the department's public website as well as the Blue Dragon Sports Network that streams for nine sports. Carpenter is also responsible for public address announcing and play-by-play of home events.

One of Carpenter's most beneficial initiatives includes the Sports Information Director student-worker program that provides opportunities for students to learn the overall aspects of becoming a Sports Information Director and promoting the student-athlete. Carpenter's program includes scholarship opportunities for students that have led to internships and full-time jobs at major four-year universities.

A native of Omaha, NE, Carpenter becomes just the second Sports Information Director to receive the coveted service award, joining fellow in-state SID Tyler Cundith of Johnson County (KS) in 2016.

Carpenter and his wife Tina have four children - Christopher (wife Yvonna), Andrew (he and his wife, Samantha, have three daughters, Karen, Hope, and Parker), Stephanie, and Samantha.

For all 2020 NJCAA Honors Award Winners, visit: 2020 NJCAA Honors Award Winners Home

For all NJCAA Honors, please visit: NJCAA Honors Home