FREELAND, Mich. -- The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) announced the 2019-20 honorees for the Robin Hartman Writing Award and the Tom Renner Associate SID Award on Monday, August 10th.
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director Sarah Miesle received the Hartman Award, while Alma's Mason Ippel was the winner of the Renner Award.
The accolades honor two long-time public and media relations directors and their service to the MIAA: the late Robin Hartman of Albion College and Tom Renner of Hope College.
Sarah Miesle - 2019-20 Robin Hartman Writing Award
Sarah Miesle's feature story on Saint Mary's cross country runners Shanan Hamilton and Angela Bannan, titled "Focused on the Finish", was selected as the winning piece for the 2019-20 Robin Hartman Writing Award.
Miesle has served as her alma mater's Sports Information Director since August 2008. She is the first SID in the MIAA to be a three-time recipient of the Hartman Award. Miesle was previously honored following the 2014-15 and 2016-17 seasons.
Robin Hartman served as Albion's Sports Information Director from 1987 to 2001 and is remembered as a pioneer in small college Sports Information with the introduction of one of the first athletic websites. He forged the path of using the internet as a source for streaming audio play-by-play. Hartman passed away in 2006.
The Hartman Award honors outstanding writing in a Sports Information capacity, either by a Sports Information Director or assistant.
Mason Ippel - 2019-20 Tom Renner Award
Mason Ippel, a native of Jenison, Michigan, graduated from Alma College in April with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a minor in computer science. Ippel assisted in the Sports Information department for the Scots during his final two years. His tasks included, but were not limited to, live statting home games, creating publications, setting up the press box and scorers table, and maintaining the website.
During his four years at Alma, Ippel represented the Scots as a quarterback on the football team.
Ippel is the sixth consecutive Alma student assistant to receive the Renner Award and the seventh since the accolade was formed in 2008.
Tom Renner served as Hope's Sports Information Director for 47 years before stepping down from his position in 2013. For 41 years, Renner was also the MIAA publicist (1967-2008) and still serves as the league's historian.
The Renner Award recognizes outstanding efforts by a student assistant in MIAA member schools' Sports Information departments.
--MIAA--
