Kentucky Awards for 2000

The Kentucky Youth Soccer Association Awards recognize outstanding achievements by Coaches, Players, Referees and Administrators in advancing youth soccer in the state.  

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President's Award

J. W. Marks Oldham County Youth Soccer

Rarely given, and only for exceptional contributions to the development of youth soccer in Kentucky, the President's Award is being given this year to Janice Winter Marks in recognition of her outstanding volunteer work in two diverse areas - promoting the establishment and growth of TOPSoccer and serving as volunteer coordinator of three major national soccer events in one year: the U.S. Soccer Nike Women's Cup finals, the U.S. Soccer Federation's Annual General Meeting and the inaugural Women's Gold Cup, the continental championship for women. 

KYSA President Perry Alexander, in announcing his decision this year to bestow the state's highest award on Marks, noted, "Janice is a whirling dervish, a force of nature. Once she sets her mind to a task, mountains and rivers are no barrier. She is unceasing in her efforts to enlist volunteers, to organize them and to motivate them." 

Kentucky President Perry Alexander presents Janice Marks with the President's Award at the 2000 Awards Luncheon as State Youth Administrator Milt Koger watches.

Marks became Kentucky Youth Soccer's "goodwill ambassador" while serving as chair of the local host committee for the United States Soccer Federation's annual general meeting held in July last year in Louisville. 

Not content to rest after doing the work to host the largest annual soccer meeting in the country, Marks eagerly accepted the challenge of organizing a statewide band of hearty volunteers to staff the U.S. Soccer's Nike Cup at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium just a few months later. And she pulled it off with almost no planning time. Tony DiCicco, U.S. Women's National Coach at the Cup, commented that "the Kentucky staff were among the best (he had) ever encountered." And he strongly wanted to see the team return. 

Kentucky ODP players watch the World Champion US Women's team at Cardinal Stadium before the final game of the 1999 Nike USA Women's Cup

In May of this year, Alexander called on her again and this time to staff three double-header game days in the inaugural Women's Gold Cup tournament held in Louisville in June and July. Again Marks proved that no challenge was too great. Again, Kentucky volunteers were acclaimed as the best. 

Alexander said, "Surviving the unbelievable challenges presented by hosting an international tournament in its inaugural year, produced by a privately-promoted (non-USSF) company and involving seven teams, four of which were foreign-speaking, was a unique accomplishment." 

eanwhile, Marks was taking time to cross the state promoting her real love, TOPSoccer. With her driving energy, she has served as the catalyst in the formation of TOPS programs from Bowling Green to Lexington, bringing the game to children with all types of physical, mental and emotional challenges. 

The Lexington FC Premier girls work at a TOPS Soccer Practice in Lexington, the first expansion program from Marks' initial start in Oldham County.

The Oldham County resident also serves as the editor of KYSA's newsletter, Kentucky Soccer News. She has been on the board of the Oldham County YSA for five years and served as president one year. 

Congratulations Janice, and thanks for all of your hard work! 

Marks, with KYSA friends Kris Zander and Dave McIver, attending the USYSA Workshop where she was a presenter of a workshop on state newspapers

President's Medal

The President will make the selection of the winner of the medal on the President's own initiative or in response to nominations from district commissioners.  Nominations will be by letter with no particular form required. A recipient of the President's Medal can be a person distinguished in KYSA activities or a person so distinguished in district activities or local programs as to make an impact on the KYSA as a whole.