NATIONWIDE BECOMES CIAA CORPORATE SPONSOR:
Nationwide, one of the country's largest insurance, financial services and investment management organizations, announced today an agreement to become the "Official Insurance Provider of the Central Inter-collegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The company's commit-ment is a multi-year agreement that includes Nationwide serving as presenting sponsor of the CIAA Football Championship Game, sponsorship of the CIAA Men's Tournament Most Valuable Player Trophy, and as a Corporate Sponsor of all sixteen CIAA Conference Championships.

"We are excited about the connection of these two brands, which are committed to educational excellence and which build future leaders," said John Aman, associate vice president of Strategic Partnerships for Nationwide. "Our relationship with the CIAA is another demonstration of our support to local communities and an opportunity to engage with several historically black colleges and universities." Under the terms of the agreement, Nationwide will receive exclusive branding opportunities including signage, and on-field/on-court promotions. In addition, Nationwide will support the CIAA Scholarship Fund each year for the multi-year agreement, participate in the CIAA Tournament Fan Experience, and hold on-site job fairs on all CIAA school campuses to focus on career opportunities at Nationwide.

"The CIAA is excited to welcome Nationwide to this greater level of partnership and the creation of recruitment opportunities for students of our member institutions," said CIAA Commissioner Leon G. Kerry. "Relationships like this are important to the continued growth of the conference while supporting the academic missions of our member institutions," Kerry says.

The sponsorship also includes advertising in all CIAA televised events, including the Men's Basketball Tournament on ESPN Classic.

Competition, celebrations, celebrities, entertainment, exhibitions-for the more than 160,000 attendees-the CIAA is non-stop excitement on a world-class level.

"We believe our sponsorship is a way to connect with the long-standing history and heritage that others have seen in the 96 year existence of the CIAA," says Aman.

SBN ALL-STAR WEEKEND:
The Sheridan Broadcasting Network Black College All-American Football Awards Weekend will celebrate its 35th anniversary this year with festivities in Pittsburgh, home of SBN. This year's event, entitled "35 Years of Honor and Glory," will be held on Friday Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14 at the William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh.

Saturday evening's 35th Annual Awards Banquet will present the members of the 2008 SBN All-American team and individual offensive (Doug Williams Award) and defensive (Mel Blount Award) player of the year and the coach (Eddie Robiinson Award) of the year awards. The No. 1 team in the final SBN Football poll, the Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Grambling State Tigers, will also be honored. Noted comedian Michael Colyar will serve as Master of Ceremonies with SBN Sports Anchor Ty Miller and Anji Corley of Pittsburgh's WAMO-FM as hosts.

The NFL "Skull Session," a chance for the black college all-Americans to learn from and ask questions from former NFL greats, will be led Billy "White Shoes" Johnson and Rick Upchurch. A host of former black college greats including Lem Barney, Robert Brazille, Everson Walls, Rayfield Wright and Harry Carson are also expected to be on hand to participate. The Skull Session starts at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Saturday's events will be preceded by Friday's Welcoming Reception and Party with entertainment provided by the Kevin Howard Group.

© 2009 Azeez Communications, Inc.

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