Award to honor cadet club sports managers

Working with The Cadet Foundation, Virginia Military Institute alumnus John Blake '79 is expanding the Henry Johnson Manager of the Year Award to honor Cadet club sports team managers. According to the description, in 2006 – 2007 Mr. Johnson served as an equipment manager at VMI for thirty-four years where he mentored and served as a role model for Cadets such as Mr. Blake who were serving as individual team managers. According to the inaugural description, "It is appropriate for this memorial award to honor a team manager for there is no other recognition for these young men who work very hard behind the scenes." Mr. Johnson is in the VMI Sports Hall of Fame with special recognition for his personal service to VMI athletics. Mr. Blake '79, himself an unpaid volunteer VMI football equipment manager during his cadetship, who worked with Mr. Johnson, established and funded the award. Until now, VMI only awarded this to equipment managers for VMI's National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports teams; many of whom are employees. The VMI Director of athletics selects the awardee. Mr. Blake '79 approached The Cadet Foundation who agreed to coordinate an additional award, funded by Mr. Blake and other Cadet Foundation donors, solely for managers of VMI club sports teams who are not NCAA athletes. The winner will receive a monetary award with an engraving which reads: "Jefferson Cub". According to Mr. Blake '79, he is working with the VMI Alumni Agencies and the VMI Athletics Department to present both awards at a lunch or dinner at the conclusion of the current academic year. According to VMI's website, current club sports include: baseball, basketball, boxing, cross fit, equestrian, golf, ice hockey, Jiu-Jitsu, lacrosse, marathon (running club), pistol, powerlifting, rock climbing, rugby, shotgun (trap and skeet), soccer, three gun club, and triathlon. Only Cadets may submit nominations and a group of Cadets from the clubs will work with Mr. Blake, assisted by The Cadet Foundation, to select the winner. All nominations should include, at the minimum: Nominee name and Class, club sport, justification for the award, and point of contact (POC) for further information. Submit nominations to: info@thecadetfoundation.org Deadline for nominations is March 31, 2024.