SRLA Honors Top Scholars and Leaders at 2026 Awards Luncheon
The Sport and Recreation Law Association (SRLA) recognized its top scholars, students, and professionals at the annual Honors and Awards Luncheon held during the 2026 SRLA Conference in New Orleans. The ceremony celebrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and service within the sport and recreation law community.
Conference organizers opened the event by thanking attendees and acknowledging those who contributed to the conference’s success.
Special appreciation was extended to the SRLA Honors and Awards Committee for their work reviewing nominations and selecting this year’s recipients. Committee members included Clare Maness, Amanda Siegrist, Dylan Williams, Nick Smith, Edgar Jackson, YooJung Rhee, Neal Ternes, Eric Kramer, Brian Menaker, Heather VanMullem, and Matthew Kastel.
Organizers also thanked the judges for the Graduate Case Study Cup and Undergraduate Research Competition: Hongyoung Kim, Yan Gioseffi, and VanMullem.
Maloy Student Research Award
One of the premier student honors presented was the Bernard “Patrick” Maloy Graduate Student Research Award, which recognizes the top graduate research paper submitted to the SRLA Honors and Awards Committee. Named in honor of Bernard Patrick Maloy, a former associate professor of sport law, management, and communication at the University of Michigan, the award highlights excellence in sport law scholarship. The winning paper is eligible for publication in the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport and the award is presented by Holt hackney of Hackney Publications.
This year’s recipient was Marshall Graves of Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) for his paper, “From One-And-Done to Paid-And-Stayed: The NCAA’s Strengthened Monopsony Power in Men’s Basketball.” Graves, a former Division I athlete, conducted his research under the supervision of faculty advisor Joe Sabin of SLU.
Student Research Competitions
Student scholarship was further highlighted through SRLA’s academic competitions. Carley Damme, the association’s student representative, presented awards for the Graduate Case Study Cup, which featured 10 teams analyzing contemporary sport law issues.
The Undergraduate Research Competition required participants to submit an abstract and deliver a 10-minute oral presentation. The 2026 winner was Alex Lee of the University of Nebraska-Kearney (UNK), who completed the project under the guidance of Rachel Silverman of UNK.
Mary Myers Scholarship
The luncheon also recognized recipients of the Mary Myers Scholarship, which supports students pursuing studies in sport law.
This year’s recipients were: Carley Damme, Alex Lee, Caroline Nogueira Costa, YongJe (Tyler) Son, Chanyong Kim, and Maddie Law.
Kristi Schoepfer Service-Learning Award
The Kristi Schoepfer Service-Learning Award honors an SRLA member who develops impactful service-learning initiatives reflecting Schoepfer’s commitment to education and community engagement. The 2026 recipient was VanMullem for her project, “Runnin’ with the Cougs! Preparing for Your Future in Sport.”
Lori K. Miller Young Professional Award
The Lori K. Miller Young Professional Award recognizes an emerging academic who demonstrates excellence in teaching, research, and service in sport and recreation law. This year’s recipient was Silverman.
Herb Appenzeller SRLA Honor Award
The Herb Appenzeller SRLA Honor Award, the association’s highest recognition, is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to SRLA and the broader sport law community.
The award is named after one of SRLA’s founding members and a pioneer in sport law scholarship.
The 2026 recipient was Gil Fried, whose career has been defined by decades of scholarship, mentorship, and service. Fried has contributed extensively to sport law education, including his work as senior editor of Safe at First, a leading risk management textbook. He has also served as an expert witness in more than 260 legal cases and advised national sport organizations on safety and risk management.
Betty van der Smissen Leadership Award
The Betty van der Smissen Leadership Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and vision in the field of sport and physical activity law.
Named after a pioneering scholar in the field, the award honors those advancing research and professional development in sport law.
The 2026 recipient was Holt Hackney, recognized for his contributions to sport law scholarship, publications, and professional leadership.
Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport Honors
The ceremony also featured updates from the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport (JLAS). Natasha Brison presented the journal’s annual awards and recognized Fried as the 2026 JLAS Research Fellow.
Board Transitions and Closing
The luncheon concluded with recognition of outgoing SRLA Board members Brison, Robert Romano, and Silverman for their service to the organization.
Organizers also thanked Jason McPhee for overseeing conference technology and audiovisual support, as well as Nita Unruh, of UNK, for her work organizing the conference.
The event concluded with the ceremonial passing of the gavel, marking the transition to new SRLA leadership, from Justin Lovich, of Charleston Southern, to Sabin.