LeRoy T. Walker Young Professional Award
The LeRoy T. Walker Young Professional Award is given to a minority
member of SHAPE America who is 36 years old or younger who has
demonstrated superior promise in the areas of service, teaching,
scholarship and commitment to the goals of SHAPE America focusing
specifically on under-represented and/or underserved populations and
promotion of diversity and inclusiveness. Not more than one LeRoy Walker
Young Professional award shall be given annually.
The recipient shall:
Eligibility
- Be a current, actively involved minority member of SHAPE America.
- Be thirty-six (36) years of age or younger as of October 15 of the year of nomination submission.
- This award is restricted to minority candidates (including but not limited
to, Asian, African, Hispanic, and Native American) as defined by the U.
S. Government. [The U. S. Government approach (based on the collection
of census data) is to accept individual self identification of minority
status.]
- Previous recipients of the Social Justice and Diversity
Young Professional Award given under the Ethnic Minority Council or
AAHPERD Social Justice and Diversity Committee are ineligible.
Award Criteria
- Have demonstrated outstanding potential in scholarship, teaching, and/or professional leadership.
- Have evidence of recognized teaching ability, significant publications and
citations, awards, or other recognition for outstanding teaching,
coaching, administration, or performance.
- Have evidence of active leadership roles in advancing diversity and inclusiveness in the profession(s).
LeRoy T. Walker
LeRoy
T. Walker (June 14, 1918 – April 23, 2012) was an icon. A noted author, professor, coach, and administrator in the disciplines of physical
education and athletics, he was a barrier-breaking and remarkable human
being who was dedicated to promoting and uplifting young people.
Walker
was Chancellor Emeritus of North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in
Durham, NC. He was elected President of the Athletics Congress (now USA
Track & Field), the national governing body of USA Track & Field.
Walker was elected President Emeritus of the United States' Olympic
Committee (the first and only American to hold this position) and was a
former president of AAHPERD (from 1977-1978, also the first African
American to be elected to this position). Walker was inducted as a member
into 17 Halls of Fame, awarded 16 Honorary Doctorates from a variety of
institutions, and received numerous awards, including the Luther H.
Gulick Award (1982), SHAPE America's highest honor.