Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award

Definition
The Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has maintained a professional lifelong commitment of service to the game of women's basketball. This award is named after the late Senda Berenson Abbott of Smith College who introduced the game of basketball to women in 1893.

Eligibility
• Coaches (FORMER): Must have coached a women's high school or collegiate team for at least 10 years, demonstrating exceptional coaching talents or must have coached a women's team at least 10 years in a level other than high school or college (for example AAU or international play) and demonstrated exceptional service to the game of women's basketball.
• Players (FORMER): Must be a former player who has demonstrated outstanding talents and made a great contribution to the game.
• Others: Must have served in a capacity that enhanced the improvement, publicity or positive notoriety of the sport of women's basketball in a way to be considered outstanding (i.e. corporate sponsors, sports media, administrators, referees, educators, managers, etc.).
• Candidates are eligible after completion of significant contributions to the sport of women's basketball.

Nomination
All collegiate WBCA member head coaches are eligible to nominate any individual who fits the above criteria. Nominations must be received online by the deadline listed on all nomination information. The nomination form must be fully completed and include one supporting reference.

Selection
All eligible nominees will remain in the Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award pool for a maximum of five years and the recipient is selected from the pool of eligible nominees by the Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award Committee.

View Committee

Presentation
The Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award winner is recognized annually at the WBCA Awards Luncheon during the WBCA National Convention.

Past Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients:
2012 - Kay James, University of Southern Mississippi
2011 - Donna Wise, Campbellsville University
2010 - Marsha Sharp
2009 - Kay Yow, North Carolina State University (deceased)
2008 - Cherri Mankenberg
2007 - Brenda Byrd
2006 - Sue Gunter, Louisiana State University
2005 - Charles Heatly, Lindsay High School (OK)
2004 - Louise O'Neal, Wellesley College
2003 - Dr. Charlotte West, Southern Illinois University
2002 - Dr. Jill Hutchison, Illinois State University
2001 - Bob Spencer, California State University, Fresno
2000 - Dr. Brenda Reilly, Central Connecticut State University
1999 - Betty Wiseman, Belmont University (Tenn.)
1998 - Dr. Rose Marie Battaglia, Bergen Community College
1997 - Lea Plarski, St. Louis Community College
1996 - Carole Baumgarten, Drake University
1995 - Dr. Billie Moore, UCLA
1994 - Marcy Weston, Central Michigan University
1993 - Patsy Neal, Wayland Baptist University
1992 - Harley Redin, Wayland Baptist University
1991 - Alberta Cox, AAU Raytown Piperettes
1990 - Bertha F. Teague
1989 - Pat Summitt, University of Tennessee
1988 - Hunter Low, Eastman Kodak
1987 - Cathy Rush, Immaculata College
1986 - Dr. Mildred Barnes, Central Missouri State University
1985 - Dr. Carol Eckman, West Chester University
1984 - Margaret Wade, Delta State University

*Note: The Jostens-Berenson Service Award changed names in 2006-07. The award is now called the Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award.