OXFORD, Ohio- The River States Conference is pleased to announce the selection of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College's Sara Amstutz as the 2024-25 River States Conference Faculty-Athletics Representative of the Year. Amstutz was selected as the 2024-25 winner of the award after a vote of the RSC's member institutions.

Amstutz serves as a Lecturer of Business & Leadership at SMWC, and serves as the faculty-athletics representative for the Pomeroys.

Sara works proactively with all the SMWC teams and coaches to make sure the (credit hour) rules are followed each semester or to give student-athletes a path to regain eligibility if they are short," Amstutz's nominator for the award stated. "Sara has had many conversations with the athletic director and compliance director over the past two years to improve our own knowledge base of NAIA regulations so that we are double and triple checking the accuracy of our information."

Amstutz's professionalism and passion for the students on the SMWC campus was also highlighted in her nomination.

"Sara is the consummate professional and as strong an advocate as our student-athletes as anyone on campus and deserves very strong consideration for FAR of the Year."

The RSC Faculty-Athletics Representative of the Year award was established in 2016-17. Its purpose is to recognize one FAR within the conference each year for outstanding service and dedication to the role with an RSC and NAIA athletic department and campus.

The FAR is a member of the faculty who works with the athletic department to certify the eligibility of all student-athletes at that institution before they can represent the school in competition. The FAR cannot be a coach or an athletics administrator and is well versed in the rules and regulations of the NAIA.

YEAR BY YEAR -- RSC FACULTY ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE YEAR
2016-17 -- Chris Cox (IU Southeast)
2017-18 -- Laura Schatzkamer (Carlow)
2019-20 -- Dr. Daniel Kuthy (Brescia)
2020-21 -- Dr. Ken Pickerill (Asbury)
2021-22 -- Dr. Stephen Custer (Oakland City)
2022-23 -- Dr. Stephen Custer (Oakland City)
2023-24 -- Stephanie Keeley (Midway)
2024-25 -- Sara Amstutz (St. Mary-of-the-Woods)