Named in honor of long-time Gettysburg College sports information director Bob Kenworthy, this award is presented at the discretion of the ECAC-SIDA Executive Board to a person or organization (excluding vendors) for contributions to the corporation and mission of ECAC-SIDA.

After informing our award winners this spring, we picked their brains to find out a little more about them and why they are worthy recipients. Below we learn a little more about our Bob Kenworthy award winner, Bob Beretta of Army West Point. 

Bob Beretta, senior associate director of athletics for strategic initiatives at Army, has called West Point his professional home for 33 years. During that time, he has transitioned from a distinguished two-decade career in athletic communications to the head of Army's external operations. His nearly 20 years as a senior leader at West Point includes myriad responsibilities – integral duties such as sport supervision and corporate sponsorship for the Black Knights. 

His excellence in the field of athletic communications is well documented. The 2020 Kenworthy Award is the third honor that Beretta has received from ECAC-SIDA. In 2014, Beretta received the Pete Nevins Award for Distinguished Achievement. In 2010, Beretta received the Irving T. Marsh Award.

Beretta, the 2001-02 ECAC-SIDA President, served the organization for more than 20 years as an executive board member. As the organization's first charities chair, Beretta was the cultivator of a charitable effort that raised more than $60,000 during his 15-year tenure.

The following is a discussion with Beretta regarding his selection as the 2020 Bob Kenworthy Award winner.

ECAC-SIDA: As someone who has already had the distinguished honor of receiving the Irving Marsh Award and the Pete Nevins Award, how does it feel to receive an award named after the great Bob Kenworthy?

Bob Beretta: This is all very humbling. To say that I am honored is a massive understatement. I did not know Mr. Marsh, but I have been fortunate enough to develop wonderful relationships with Pete, before his tragic passing, and Bob. All three are icons in this industry and within this organization, one that means so much to me. Pete and Bob set the gold standard for all of us to strive to meet. Pete was such a stickler for attention to detail, work ethic and precision, and Bob is genuinely one of the most authentic individuals I have ever met. He is the ultimate gentleman and such a tremendous statesman ambassador for Gettysburg College and ECAC-SIDA. While falling far short, I have attempted to emulate their character traits to the best of my ability throughout my career, and continue to hold both individuals in the highest esteem. To receive an award in Bob's name is an incredible honor. I am so moved by this, but truly undeserving of such recognition.

ECAC-SIDA: You mentioned with us upon receiving this award that "we were able to build a great team comprised of talented individuals…those folks deserve the recognition. I just happened to be fortunate enough to be sitting in the lead chair for many years." As an ECAC-SIDA executive board member for 20 years, how gratifying was the experience of maintaining the role of charities chair and being a part of something so special?

BB: My greatest disappointment in shifting away from the communications sector of intercollegiate athletics remains the fact that I had to step away from my position on the ECAC-SIDA Board. Serving with such an unbelievably selfless group of individuals in search of goodness for the members of our organization was super fulfilling. I was so honored to serve this organization in that capacity for so many years. Having the ability to give back to our local communities through our charities functions was immeasurably rewarding. Our membership inspired me beyond words. To see how our group of professionals would come together at each workshop and donate to the levels they did left me speechless, and we had such a blast doing it – from events like the charity raffles to the silent auctions. It was so much fun. I was truly blessed to play a small role in all of that. I can remember standing before our group at the workshop each Friday morning at the organization's Business Meeting and detailing the results of our charity events for the week and it was amazing. This group of folks, hardly the highest paid members of their respective athletic departments, donated at levels beyond comprehension. That truly speaks to the high character of the individuals that comprise the ECAC-SIDA membership. I was supremely proud to be part of that team.

ECAC-SIDA: With this honor, you become one of three in history to receive a Kenworthy award, a Marsh award, and a Nevins award. You join Steve McCloskey and Roger Crosley with that honor. What does it mean to you to share that honor with them? What are your favorite aspects of your relationships with each man?

BB: Talk about humbling – which one of these does not belong with the others? That's an easy answer in this case. I am the true outlier. There are no two finer people in all of intercollegiate athletics than Steve McCloskey and Roger Crosley. Steve was ECAC-SIDA president my first year on the board and I learned so much from him – professionalism, kindness, caring. He would move me to tears almost every time he stepped to the podium to give a speech. He is so genuine, so authentic. His personality was massive, but he didn't conduct himself in that manner. What a special human being Steve is. And words cannot adequately express the respect I hold for Roger Crosley. Roger IS ECAC-SIDA. Talk about a selfless servant. Many of us were fortunate enough to serve in the role of president of the organization over the years, but we all knew who the true leader was – Roger Crosley. He was the brains, the backbone and the face of this organization for decades. He is the person responsible for keeping this organization alive and flourishing. I would not have survived five minutes as president were it not for the mentorship, guidance and friendship of Roger Crosley. He never searched for the spotlight, but without Roger, there wouldn't be a spotlight. Simply, he is the BEST. I did not have the pleasure of working with either Steve or Roger outside of ECAC-SIDA due to our schools' different affiliations, but both men have had as much impact on my career as anyone. They are tremendous professionals but even better human beings. I am so humbled and honored to stand alongside both men.  

ECAC-SIDA: The entirety of your professional career has been spent at West Point. What has the experience been like, not only serving the same institution for more than 30 years, but to serve the best and brightest that our nation has to offer?

BB: I've been extremely fortunate to spend my entire professional career at West Point. It's been such a blessing to walk alongside senior military leaders, future officers and the brightest minds this country has to offer. More than anything else, West Point is about people – selfless individuals dedicated to their craft and fully committed to the concept of service to a higher mission. From the cadets to the civilian workforce, coaches and senior military leaders, the notion of service is inculcated in everyone from the time they enter West Point's gates. The United States Military Academy is truly an American treasure, whose beauty and inspiration is only surpassed by the selfless spirit that dominates the historic landscape. "Duty, Honor, Country" is so much more than a motto at West Point. It is a way of life.

ECAC-SIDA: We all have had a mentor or mentors in our professional career. Who are those individuals that have been most beneficial to you, and why?

BB: Well, there are many individuals that I consider valued mentors and trusted advisors, several of whom I mentioned earlier – Steve McCloskey, Roger Crosley and Bob Kenworthy are all folks I have tried to learn from and emulate within ECAC-SIDA.

At West Point, there is no shortage of respected leaders to which one is exposed.  I have had the great good fortune to work with eight different superintendents and eight different athletic directors. I have studied their different leadership styles and traits, and tried to adopt as many of the positive elements as possible.

Carl Ullrich was the athletic director that hired me at West Point and he will forever serve as the gold standard in my mind as far as treating people respectfully. He made it a point to know the names of all 1,000 cadet-athletes and 200 staff members. He cared so deeply about everyone under his watch and those feelings were genuine. He is a giant in the field of intercollegiate athletics. Al Vanderbush, Rick Greenspan, Kevin Anderson, Boo Corrigan and now Mike Buddie have all helped shaped my career as industry leaders, thoughtful and caring ADs, while Superintendents like Dan Christman, Bill Lennox, Bob Caslen and Daryl Williams – all three-star generals – have been such amazing mentors and phenomenal studies in leadership. These men are some of the most impressive leaders our military has to offer and to be able to learn at their knee has been inspiring

I have also had the opportunity to stand inside the locker rooms of phenomenal coaches, unbelievable leaders in their own right – people like Jim Young, Bob Sutton, Bobby Ross and Jeff Monken. I listened intently to the messages they delivered their teams and have tried to incorporate those same belief systems into the areas with which I work.

Outside of West Point, Tom Thomas, the CEO of Cardinal Advisors, has been a dear friend, trusted advisor and one of the main drivers in my personal and professional growth for more than a decade. He continues to challenge me to be the very best I can in all facets of my life. For that, I am forever grateful.

There are so many others ... I've tried to learn from everyone, including all those teammates I worked with as part of our athletic communications staff at West Point – people like Mady Salvani, Mike Albright, Jon Terry, Brian Gunning, Ryan Yanoshak, Tracy Nelson, Tim Volkman, Pam Flenke, Matt Faulkner, Ally Keirn, Matt Tedino, Rich DeMarco and Zack Daly – these people were, and in some cases still are, stars at West Point. They are responsible for any success I have experienced. I have said this many times before, but they are all far more deserving of recognition than myself.

Finally, while neither of my parents entered the field of intercollegiate athletics, both instilled Christian values at a young age. They stressed the need for honor, integrity and an uncompromising work ethic, characteristics that remain guiding principles through my life's journey. And I can't fail to mention my sister Brenda, wife Jen and daughter Julia, all of whom have been immensely supportive and integral in helping me find my way.

ECAC-SIDA: Another two-parter to conclude, if that is OK. What is the best advice you have received, something that you try to apply to each and every day? And what is the most important piece of advice you provide to colleagues or individuals at West Point?

BB: I've always tried to live by the "Golden Rule" – to treat others the way you would want to be treated. I have always tried to treat people with respect and dignity and let them know they are valued. That is best advice I ever received. Beyond that, I've always felt that you can control only three things – you can control your effort, your energy and your attitude, nothing else. If you bring a high level of effort and energy and possess a great attitude, success will inevitably follow. If you have a passion for what you do, you will never work a day in your life. Limitless energy and an engaging spirit is infectious. We can accomplish so much more together, functioning as a cohesive team in pursuit of a common goal than if we fracture and operate in separate silos. I've been blessed to be surrounded by those "can-do" types at West Point, high-character individuals that always rallied together to support the higher mission.

Finally, a bit of wisdom imparted on me in recent years is that "high expectations, cannot survive low standards." That ideal transcends athletics. It's how I try to measure every aspect of my life.  I don't always succeed, but I strive to maintain a standard of excellence in all that I do. I preach this mantra to the young ladies that I coach in travel softball and stressed it continually to my Army softball players last year when I served as interim head coach – If you want to achieve at the highest level, you can't be excellent in some areas and mediocre in others. Excellence is an all-the-time thing. Excellence doesn't take a break, and most importantly, Excellence cannot survive low standards.