by national sports information organization KINGSTON, R.I. — June 21, 2000 — Richmond resident Mike Ballweg, assistant athletic director for media relations at the University of Rhode Island, has been named a recipient of the 25-Year Award for the year 2000 by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Ballweg, who is in his fifth year at URI, will be honored Monday, June 26, during a luncheon at this year’s CoSIDA Workshop in St. Louis. “This is a tremendous honor reserved for those who have served a minimum of 25 years in a full-time capacity in the sports information profession,” said Peter I. Moore, CoSIDA third vice president. A native of Blacksburg, Va., Ballweg is a 1975 graduate of Virginia Tech where he earned a degree in business administration. During his undergraduate college days, he worked as an intern in the Virginia Tech Sports Information Office. He served as the assistant athletic director and sports information director at Hampton (Va.) University (1975-80); director of sports media relations at Ohio University (1980-82); sports information director at West Virginia University (1982-84) and Virginia Commonwealth University (1984-92). He spent two years as the assistant executive director at the Blockbuster/Carquest Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. before coming to Rhode Island in 1994. Ballweg serves as the national chair of CoSIDA’s Publications Committee and has won a total of 28 CoSIDA citations for his brochures, game programs and posters. He is responsible for overseeing athletic public relations for all of Rhode Island’s 22 intercollegiate sports including emphasis on football and men’s basketball. Ballweg and his wife, Shari, reside in Richmond, R.I. She is a manager at Citizens Bank in the Home Equity Division. -xxx- For Information: Dave Lavallee 401-874-2116, Mike Ballweg 401-874-2401