The Heart of America Athletic Conference has announced that Missouri Valley College Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) Marsha Lashley was named the Wally Schwartz Faculty Athletics Representative of the Year for the 2019-20 academic year. The award was voted on by the FARs at the conference.
According to MVC, the award honors past Vice-President of Legislative Services Wally Schwartz, and is given to a Faculty Athletics Representative who exemplifies the loyalty, enthusiasm and honesty that Schwartz had and still has shown on behalf of the NAIA. The award is given at the conference, independent and national level.
Lashley began working at MVC in 1983, spending the first 10 years of her career as the Director of Housing in Student Affairs. She moved to the academic side of campus in 1993 and became the Registrar shortly thereafter. Processing eligibility paperwork came with the position, and Lashley requested her role shift to the dual-duty setup of Registrar and FAR. She then followed the footsteps of Dr. Phyllis O’Daniels and became the Heart of America FAR around 2011.
“My role as FAR is actually the best part of my job. I enjoy working with the coaches and student-athletes,” Lashley shared. “Serving a larger role within the conference is very rewarding. In the last few years, I have enjoyed committee work at the national level within the NAIA. I serve on the Council of Faculty Athletic Representatives, and I’m also on the Competitive Experience Committee where I’m currently serving as chair.”
Lashley is now eligible to be nominated for the award at the national level. The national winner will be announced publicly during the NAIA National Awards Day in September.