General | 3/1/2016 10:11:00 AM

Austin, Texas----Wingate University Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information and Game Operations David Sherwood has won the prestigious Lester Jordan Award from the College Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA). The Lester Jordan Award is presented annually to an individual for exemplary service to the Academic All-America® program and for promotion of the ideals of being a student-athlete. The award, presented annually since 1994, will be presented to Sherwood during the June CoSIDA convention in Dallas.

Wingate's Sports Information Director for 31 years, Sherwood has served on the Academic All-America® committee for over 20 years. He has served as a district coordinator for the Academic All-America® programs and has also served on the publicity subcommittee, writing the press releases for the national teams.

At Wingate, Sherwood has helped the Bulldogs pile up Academic All-America® honorees at an unparalleled rate. Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 82 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate's 82 Academic All-America® honorees are number one during this millennium (Duke is second). Wingate's 91 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all South Atlantic Conference schools. In addition, the Bulldogs have had a conference-best 65 SAC Scholar-Athlete winners.

In 2003, Sherwood received the Bob Kenworthy Award from CoSIDA. The Kenworthy Award is given annually to a CoSIDA member for community involvement and accomplishments outside the sports information office. Sherwood has earned several awards for his efforts at Wingate. In 2007, he received the Wingate University Faith Award and the Wingate University Service Award from his peers.

Here is what Wingate coaches and peers have to say about Sherwood's award.

Steve Poston (Vice President and Director of Athletics at Wingate)
"All of us at Wingate University are extremely pleased that David Sherwood has been recognized for his exemplary work with CoSIDA and the Academic All-America® program. In my view, being named to an Academic All-America® team is the highest honor that a student-athlete can receive. We have been fortunate to have many Bulldogs honored in this noteworthy way. That, of course, could not have happened without David's tireless efforts on their behalf. The Lester Jordan Award is evidence that David is not only respected and admired on the Wingate campus but he is also held in high regards by his friends and colleagues in CoSIDA."

Kirk Sanocki (Head Men's & Women's Swim Coach - has had 19 Academic All-America® selections)
"As coaches we learn a great deal about our players over time. We are there to guide them in any number of ways. It is not hard to learn something new each day about your own team. I could not image what it would be like to learn something about every player from every team on our campus and that is exactly what it is like for David Sherwood. The most amazing thing about David is not just knowing the stats, but how effortless the bonds he creates with the student-athlete. It's as if they are all his children, and how easy it becomes to nominate someone for an award when you are speaking about someone you know on a higher level. You can see it with the care in preparing a nomination. It's easy to do when you feel you are speaking about one of your own children. If you have had the pleasure of meeting David you would know the strength of his faith, and his strength of faith is witnessed in every nomination. Some SID's speak from a stat sheet while David speaks from his heart about first-hand knowledge that leads his preparation. Swimming has had the good fortune with the Academic All-America® selections through CoSIDA and I believe every one of our swimmers had an edge because David knew each and every one and still is in contact with them today. I'm not surprised by his award, just shocked it's taken this long."

Joe Reich (Head Football Coach – has had 12 Academic All-America® selections)
"David Sherwood is a tireless worker who is the definition of a servant leader. His dedication and commitment to our student-athletes is unmatched."

Ann Hancock (Women's Basketball Coach – Wingate's first Academic All-America® selection)
"David Sherwood has dedicated his life to Wingate University and its student-athletes. He works non-stop behind the scenes so others may receive recognition. Often times, no one even knows all the things David does for the coaches and students at Wingate. As someone who has directly benefited from his tireless effortless, first as a student and later as a coach, I know of no one more deserving of this recognition."

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, consistently ranked as a top 10 "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,100 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, master's degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport management and doctorates in pharmacy, physical therapy and education.
 
With a 15 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past nine years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 82 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate's 82 Academic All-America® honorees are number one during this millennium. Wingate's 91 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.