Award honors recreation leader

​Stan Shingles is the winner of a national collegiate recreation organization’s top annual award.

Central Michigan University’s assistant vice president for university recreation received the 2019 Honor Award from NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation, formerly the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association.

“This awards underscores the commitment that CMU has made in allowing me to serve our profession and professional association,” Shingles said. “Although this is an individual honor, it could not have been achieved without the unyielding support of CMU and my outstanding University Recreation teammates over the past three decades.”

NIRSA presents the annual Honor Award — its most prestigious recognition — for outstanding achievements in the profession and exemplary service to the association.

"He is a major leader at CMU, within the Mount Pleasant community, in the state of Michigan and nationally." — Tom Jones, recreational services director emeritus, speaking of Stan Shingles

“Stan is a role model for servant leadership, a mentor to students and professionals, an expert in recreational sports, and an ambassador in numerous organizations and causes,” NIRSA said in a news release announcing the award.

In his 30 years at CMU, Shingles has been assistant director for intramural sports, associate director and director of programs, and interim assistant vice president of the Office of Institutional Diversity. He also is a 30-year volunteer with Special Olympics Michigan.

“The national partnership between NIRSA and Special Olympics was created and fostered during Stan’s term as NIRSA president,” said Scott George, manager of university engagement with Special Olympics and former CMU staff member.

George said Shingles also envisioned the positive impact Unified Sportswould have on CMU students and Special Olympics athletes.

“Stan’s great influence can be seen at the national level and in the growth of Unified Sports within NIRSA,” George said.

Shingles is CMU’s second NIRSA Honor Award recipient. Tom Jones, now recreational services director emeritus, received the honor in 1987. Jones also is namesake of the lifetime Michigan Intramural Recreational Sports Association Outstanding Member Award that Shingles received in 2006.

“Stan became involved in all aspects of the community and came to be an agent for change in mid-Michigan,” Jones said. “Nearly 30 years later he is a major leader at CMU, within the Mount Pleasant community, in the state of Michigan and nationally.”

Shingles will receive the Honor Award at NIRSA’s annual conference Feb. 16-19 in Boston.

NIRSA is a leader in higher education and advocate for the advancement of recreation, sport and well-being.