FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Courtesy of Lasell Athletics Communications
NEWTON, Mass. – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference announced the 2016-17 administrative awards, naming Lasell College Sports Information Director Emily Machado as the 2017 GNAC Sports Information Director of the Year following a vote of the conference's SIDs. The is the second time in as many years that Machado has received the award, and the first time in GNAC history that an SID has earned the honor in consecutive years. The 2016-2017 academic year was just Machado's second full year at Lasell after she returned to her alma mater in November 2014.
"This recognition is very well-deserved," said Lasell College Director of Athletics Kristy Walter. "Emily continues to be an important member of our athletic department. She is innovative in the way she approaches developing content to bring recognition to our student-athletes, and is always looking for new ways to promote Lasell athletics. Her ability to use social media platforms to engage with our fans has helped grow a culture of excitement within the Lasell athletic family."
This year, Emily launched new QR programs, eliminating paper handouts. She increased the department's social media following on four platforms—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat and also creating “Game Day” graphics for all teams. In addition, all home events were live streamed and had in-game stats and she collaborated with Lasell's Student Radio Club to create professional broadcasts for the winter and spring home games to more than double the number of contests with in-game commentary.
"I am extremely humbled to receive this honor among such a talented and hard-working group of SIDs," said Machado. "I'd also like to thank the coaches, administrators and most importantly our student-athletes at Lasell for making this opportunity possible."
A 2013 graduate of Lasell, Machado came back to the Commonwealth Ave. campus following a stint as the assistant sports information director at Becker College. A three-time GNAC champion as a member of the women's soccer program during her undergraduate days, Machado is able to draw on her own history of living the Lasell student-athlete experience as she finds new and more exciting ways to promote the athlete’s achievements.
Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 12 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 17 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement.
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