2021 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
Tammy Smith | Union County College (NJ) | Dean of College Life, NJCAA Region 19 Women's Director
As the Dean of College Life at Union County College, Smith has played an integral part in expanding the Owls' athletic department including the addition of softball, women's soccer, men's and women's track and field, men's lacrosse, and esports. In over a decade at Union County, Smith has taken the lead in several major initiatives including a new athletic department logo and the hosting of one of the college's most prestigious events, a Title IX Celebration, which was the 40th anniversary of gender equality in education and athletics.
Smith serves as the NJCAA Region 19 Women's Director, Chair of the NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball Committee, and a member of the Division III Women's Soccer and Tennis Committees. When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, Smith provided the support needed to complete the 2020 NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship, the only women's basketball national champion to be crowned last year. Most recently, Smith assisted Union County in hosting the 2020-21 NJCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship.
Dan Mason | North Iowa Area Community College | Athletic Director, NJCAA Region 11 Women's Director
Dan Mason has served as the Head Men's Basketball Coach and Athletic Director at North Iowa Area Community College for 27 years. Prior to retiring in June 2021, Mason focused his dedicated work ethic on the Trojans' athletic department and accomplished two of his main goals: building a new recreation center and re-establishing the school's wrestling program.
Mason has also served as a committed leader on the region and national levels as the NJCAA Region 11 Women's Director. During the 2020-21 academic year, Mason served on four committees including the NJCAA Division II Volleyball, Division II Women's Basketball, Division II Women's Soccer, and Eligibility Committees.
Under Mason's leadership, the North Iowa Area athletic department has developed a culture of success that will carry long after his retirement.
Marci Henry | Northeastern Junior College (CO) | Athletic Director, NJCAA Board of Regents Senior Women's Administrator
In January 2010, Marci Henry began as the Athletic Director at Northeastern Junior College after successfully running the Plainswomen volleyball program since 1999.
Henry has been a dedicated member of the NJCAA's national leadership for more than a decade. Henry served on the NJCAA Board of Directors from 2006-15 as the Region 9 Women's Director. From 2015-18, Henry served as the association's First Vice President for Women in the NJCAA. In August 2018, Henry took over as the first Senior Women's Administrator of the association's newly established Board of Regents. In 2016, she was honored as the George E Kilian Award of Excellence recipient, which is given to individuals dedicated to the ideals of volunteerism, achievement, service, leaders, and excellence by the NJCAA National Office. Throughout her tenure, Henry has been integral in providing unwavering leadership and guidance to the Board and the NJCAA National Office.
For all 2021 NJCAA Honors and Annual Award Winners, visit: 2021 NJCAA Award Winners
For all NJCAA Honors, please visit: NJCAA Honors Home