SIN CITY CLASSIC SPORTS FESTIVAL OPENS NOMINATIONS FOR 4th ANNUAL KEN SCEARCE LEADERSHIP AWARD
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Each year the world’s largest LGBTQ+ sports festival honors an individual whose leadership and dedication betters a local LGBTQ+ sports league.
LOS ANGELES – (November 16, 2024) – The Sin City Classic Sports Festival Presented by Lexus, the world’s largest LGBTQ+ sporting festival, today opened nominations for the 4 th annual Ken Scearce Leadership Award. Each year, the festival honors the memory and legacy of Ken Scearce, the festival’s former Executive Director who passed away suddenly in 2021. The award recognizes an individual whose leadership and dedication has bettered a local LGBTQ+ sports league. “Ken dedicated countless hours to ensuring the Sin City Classic provided a fun and safe atmosphere for both competition and community. Sports leaders from around the country respected his leadership and ability to connect with LGBTQ+ athletes and their families and friends,” said Sin City Classic co-Executive Director Jason Peplinski. “This year’s recipient will pay tribute to Ken and the many attributes he embodied, including leadership, dedication, and community.”
Presented annually, the Ken Scearce Leadership Award recognizes athletes, coaches, referees, officials, and other volunteers who dedicate their time and skills to promoting the value and importance of LGBTQ+ sports. Their participation, both on and off the playing field, inspires others within their organization and builds community. Their hard work and selfless commitment directly and positively impact the lives of others.
The organizing committee of the Sin City Classic will determine the winner of the Ken Scearce Leadership Award based on the following criteria:
• This individual is always a “team player” putting the needs of the team first;
• This individual is dedicated to growing their sport within the LGBTQ+ community and has extended outreach to allies and other supporters;
• This individual is passionate on and/or off the field and leads by example; and
• This individual’s motivation is to give back to LGBTQ+ community, which is, first and foremost,
what ultimately makes them a LEADER!
You can submit your nomination for the Ken Scearce Leadership Award here or via email by completing this form and sending to dagerry@yahoo.com.
Previous Ken Scearce Leadership Award winners are:
• 2022 – Andrew Miller from Los Angeles
• 2023 – Tommy Otterbine from Philadelphia
• 2024 - Mark Hedlund from Seattle
The Greater Los Angeles Softball Association (GLASA) created the Sin City Classic in 2008 as an LGBTQ+ softball tournament meant to provide a safe and competitive atmosphere for LGBTQ+ athletes. Over the past 16 years the tournament has grown to include 24 sports and approximately 10,000 athletes and fans. GLASA remains committed to creating the best experience possible for diverse roster of dedicated athletes who participate and the fans and allies to come to enjoy the festival.
The Sin City Classic is proudly hosted at the Flamingo Las Vegas. Additional sponsors include presenting sponsor, Lexus, as well as Caesar’s Entertainment, mistr, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, ViiV Healthcare, GayVN, and Piranha Nightclub. For more information about the Sin City Classic or to register your team, please visit www.sincityclassic.org.
About GLASA
GLASA is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization that encourages and hosts the participation of LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies in organized sporting competitions.
