ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — The GSAC has announced its nominees for the 2026 NAIA Awards Day honors, recognizing outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, character, leadership, and service across the conference.
The annual NAIA Awards Day program celebrates individuals and institutions that exemplify the NAIA's commitment to developing student-athletes through character-driven intercollegiate athletics. The GSAC will be represented by nominees across several national award categories, while also recognizing its annual conference award recipients.
Leading the GSAC's list of national nominees are student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and institutions who have demonstrated exceptional excellence both on and off the field of play.
Representing the conference for the prestigious Dr. Leroy Walker Champions of Character Award is Jamie Black of Embry-Riddle. Black, a senior women's soccer student-athlete majoring in mechanical engineering, has distinguished herself through academic excellence, leadership, community service, and a steadfast commitment to the NAIA's five core values.
The GSAC's nominees for the A.O. Duer Scholarship Award are Zoe Yates of The Master's on the women's side and Nitai Bental of Embry-Riddle on the men's side. Yates, a beach volleyball standout and History major, has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while earning NAIA All-America honors and serving her campus and community. Bental, an Aerospace Engineering major and men's soccer student-athlete, carries a 3.86 GPA while exemplifying leadership, citizenship, and academic achievement.
Arizona Christian University's Dr. Mickey Kerr has been nominated for the Wally Schwartz Faculty Athletics Representative of the Year Award following another year of outstanding service in supporting student-athlete academic success and strengthening relationships between athletics and faculty.
Also representing Arizona Christian is Travis Armstrong, the GSAC nominee for the Charles Morris Administrator of the Year Award. Armstrong has played an instrumental role in the development of new athletic facilities and programs while demonstrating exceptional servant leadership and dedication to the student-athlete experience.
Embry-Riddle women's soccer head coach Todd Poitras has been selected as the conference's nominee for the Coach of Character Award. Under Poitras' leadership, the Eagles have achieved national success while maintaining a strong emphasis on academic excellence, community service, and the NAIA's Champions of Character values.
The conference's nominees for the Bruce Brown Champions of Character Team Award are the Embry-Riddle men's basketball team and Embry-Riddle women's soccer team. Both programs have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to character, academic achievement, sportsmanship, and community engagement while competing at a high level nationally.
Arizona Christian University has been selected as the GSAC's nominee for the School of Character Award in recognition of its institution-wide commitment to leadership development, faith formation, service, and intentional character education.
In addition to the national nominees, the GSAC announced its annual conference award recipients. Jim Rickard of The Master's was named the GSAC Athletic Director of the Year after leading the Mustangs to their third consecutive GSAC All-Sports Award and a conference-best 12th-place finish in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings. Rickard also guided The Master's to nine GSAC tournament championships while completing his 35th season as head coach of the men's soccer program.
Dave Caldwell of The Master's earned Sheri Pine GSAC Sports Information Director of the Year honors for the third consecutive season. Caldwell recently completed his fourth year overseeing athletic communications for the Mustangs while also serving as the primary play-by-play voice for TMU broadcasts.
Embry-Riddle's Monica Surguine was selected as the GSAC Athletic Trainer of the Year, earning the award for the first time following her fourth season with the Eagles.
Recipients of the NAIA national awards will be announced during the NAIA Awards Day celebration later this summer.
2026 GSAC NAIA Awards Day Nominees
- Dr. Leroy Walker Award: Jamie Black, Embry-Riddle
- A.O. Duer Scholarship Award (Women): Zoe Yates, The Master's
- A.O. Duer Scholarship Award (Men): Nitai Bental, Embry-Riddle
- Wally Schwartz Faculty Athletics Representative of the Year: Dr. Mickey Kerr, Arizona Christian
- Charles Morris Administrator of the Year: Travis Armstrong, Arizona Christian
- Coach of Character: Todd Poitras, Embry-Riddle
- Bruce Brown CCA Team of Character (Men): Embry-Riddle Men's Basketball
- Bruce Brown CCA Team of Character (Women): Embry-Riddle Women's Soccer
- School of Character: Arizona Christian University
2026 GSAC Conference Award Recipients
- Athletic Director of the Year: Jim Rickard, The Master's
- Sheri Pine GSAC Sports Information Director of the Year: Dave Caldwell, The Master's
- Athletic Trainer of the Year: Monica Surguine, Embry-Riddle