FREELAND, Mich. -- On July 26, the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) announced the 2021-22 recipients for both the Robin Hartman Writing Award and the Tom Renner Associate SID Award.
Albion College Sports Information Director Marissa Smego earned the Hartman Award for the second-consecutive year, while Alma College's Hannah Evans was the Renner Award honoree.
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.
Marissa Smego - 2021-22 Robin Hartman Writing Award
Marissa Smego's story titled "'Courageous' Group of Fifth Years Leading Albion Football with 'No Guarantees'" was selected as the winning piece for the 2021-22 Robin Hartman Writing Award. The story highlights nine football players who used their extra year of eligibility that was granted by the NCAA due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. At the start of the season, however, all sports were still up in the air and had student-athletes and coaches crossing their fingers to make it through the full season without COVID interruptions. Smego's piece perfectly encapsulates trying to navigate the uncertainty of sports during the pandemic, as well as highlighting the journey leading up to this last year.
Following the 2021-22 academic year, Smego wrapped up her second year as the Sports Information Director at Albion. This is the second time in eight years that a Briton SID has received the Hartman Award.
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.
Hannah Evans - 2021-22 Tom Renner Award
Grand Rapids native Hannah Evans graduated from Alma College in April 2022 with degrees in both Chemistry and Spanish. Although Evans has spent the last four years in the Alma Sports Information department, she stepped up during her senior year when Alma was without a Sports Information Director. Her tasks included game day management, statistics, serving as the primary sport contact for baseball and softball, and more.
"I have had the privilege of watching Hannah grow into a confident, dedicated, and passionate professional over the past two years and can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award," commented Alma Associate Athletics Director for Operations and Compliance Kiana Verdugo. "Although it is always our goal, it is rare that there are students that we can rely on and trust to lead significant portions of our operations. Hannah not only accepted the challenge but did so with grace and pushed us to improve."
Alma student assistants have claimed the Renner Award eight times 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.
