The National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) announced the 10 initial recipients in the association’s newly created NSGA College Scholarship Program. The program, which launched in late 2011, was created as an effort to help establish sporting goods as a preferred employment destination for top students across the country who currently, or in the past, have worked for an NSGA member retailer or team dealer.

The 2012 recipients of the scholarship come from several NSGA member companies, including BSN Sports, Hibbett Sports, MC Sports, Modell’s Sporting Goods, Schuylkill Valley Sports and Sport Chalet, and work either in the corporate office or in retail locations across the country. The recipients and their colleges are below.

Jesse Baldwin (West Chester University)                                  

Kevin Blume (University of Illinois)

Jennifer Brown (University of Alabama)                                   

David Caravati (Virginia Tech)

Jamal Jones (George Washington University)                          

Krystle Osby (UC Irvine)

Jenna Porretta (Coastline Community College)                       

Katrina Swenson (Saddleback College)

Jill Timmer (Argosy)               

Benjamin Todd (Grand Canyon University)

According to NSGA’s President & CEO Matt Carlson, “These students exemplify the hard work and dedication that many employees of our member companies exhibit on a daily basis. To be able to recognize employees of member stores is gratifying and helps our member retailers and team dealers create added value and relevance with their employees.”

Recipients will receive their scholarships in time for use in the Fall 2012 academic semester, and will be recognized at the 2012 NSGA Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit’s All-Star Awards Luncheon on Monday, May 7.

Special thanks to the committee of NSGA members who chose this year’s College Scholarship recipients:

Larry Aasheim, Universal Athletic Service

Eric Engstrom, Edifice Information Management

Becky Jones, Hibbett Sports

George Kline Jr., BSN Sports – Team Bethlehem

Don Leonard, Crown Sport Sales, Inc.

Pat Quinn, Play It Again Sports

Jerry Williams, Schuylkill Valley Sports

Erin Goodchild, NSGA Committee Liaison

If any business has college students who would be interested in applying for the 2013 NSGA College Scholarship Program, applications will become available in August at www.nsga.org/collegescholarship. And to learn more about the upcoming Management Conference & Team Dealer Summit where these scholarship recipients will receive recognition, please visit www.nsga.org/conference.