Mayoral Award of Excellence
Established in 2023 to recognize a person, group or organization that has directly contributed to the sport of volleyball or the International Volleyball Hall of Fame and represents the ideals and spirit of the City of Holyoke. The award is given at the discretion of the sitting Mayor of Holyoke with approval by the IVHF Board of Directors.
Anyone can submit a nomination for the Mayoral Award of Excellence.
Deadline: March 1 to be considered for current year.
Any nominations submitted after the deadline will be considered for a future year.
QUESTIONS? Contact George Mulry, Executive Director, at [email protected] or (413) 536-0926.
Use the button below to submit a nomination.
Deadline: March 1 to be considered for current year.
Any nominations submitted after the deadline will be considered for a future year.
QUESTIONS? Contact George Mulry, Executive Director, at [email protected] or (413) 536-0926.
Use the button below to submit a nomination.
AWARD WINNERS
2025: Peter Diamond
2024: Michael Kane, Mike Knapik, Aaron Vega and Donald Humason, Jr.
2023: Hector 'Picky' Soto (Puerto Rico)
2025: Peter Diamond
2024: Michael Kane, Mike Knapik, Aaron Vega and Donald Humason, Jr.
2023: Hector 'Picky' Soto (Puerto Rico)
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PETER DIAMOND (2025)
Longtime member and President of the FIVB Communication Commission. As the former Executive Vice President of Olympic Programming at NBC, Peter Diamond was the architect of NBC’s hugely successful Olympic programming schedule for over 30 years. Diamond’s unparalleled knowledge of Olympic sports and his relationships with the world sporting community helped NBC grow the Games in the U.S. to unprecedented levels of coverage and popularity. Diamond was responsible for programming NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the Olympic Games across numerous NBCUniversal broadcast, cable, and digital platforms. He worked on a regular basis with the international Olympic-sport federations and the national governing bodies of Olympic sports in the United States. Diamond worked 20 Olympic Games which is more than any executive in U.S. television history. Diamond also coordinated NBC Sports Group’s presentation of the U.S. Olympic Trials and the Paralympics, along with its year-round Olympic-sport programming, which significantly increased in 2015 when NBCUniversal acquired Universal Sports Network assets. Diamond began his 42-year career in television at ABC Sports in July 1974, serving as the Olympic researcher for the network’s coverage of the 1976 Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria, and the Summer Games in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He originally joined NBC in 1977 as Associate Producer, Olympic Research, as the network prepared for its coverage of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, Russia. Though NBC’s extensive Moscow coverage was cancelled because of the U.S. boycott, Diamond was part of a small contingent of NBC personnel sent to Moscow for the SportsWorld coverage of the Games. |
2024: Michael Kane, Mike Knapik, Aaron Vega and Donald Humason, Jr.
Massachusetts has a rich history of leadership in sports, and volleyball's origins in the state are a point of pride. The efforts to recognize volleyball as the "Official Team and Recreation Sport of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts" highlight the dedication and passion of several key legislators who understood the cultural and historical significance of the sport to the state. Among these champions were then Massachusetts Senator Michael Kane, Massachusetts Representative Mike Knapik, Massachusetts Representative Aaron Vega, and Massachusetts Senator Don Humason, each playing a pivotal role in this landmark achievement.
Senator Michael Kane was one of the early proponents of the initiative. Understanding that volleyball was invented in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 1895 by William G. Morgan, Kane saw the designation as an opportunity to honor the sport’s legacy and its profound connection to the state. His advocacy was rooted in a deep appreciation for the sport’s historical significance and its ongoing contribution to community health and recreation across Massachusetts.
Representative Mike Knapik was also a driving force behind the movement. With a strong connection to the city of Holyoke and its residents, Knapik recognized the importance of volleyball to the community’s identity. He worked diligently to garner support from colleagues in the legislature, emphasizing how the sport's designation could further elevate Massachusetts’ cultural heritage on both a national and international stage. His efforts were instrumental in building the momentum needed to push the legislation forward.
Representative Aaron Vega brought a fresh perspective to the campaign, advocating not only for the historical recognition but also for the sport's role in promoting physical activity and community engagement. He saw the designation as a means to inspire future generations of athletes and to promote a healthy, active lifestyle among Massachusetts residents. Vega’s personal connection to the sport provided a compelling narrative that resonated with lawmakers and constituents alike.
Senator Don Humason played a crucial role in the final stages of the legislative process. A strong supporter of sports and community initiatives, Humason helped navigate the complexities of the legislative process, ensuring that the bill gained the necessary support and moved forward. His bipartisan approach and commitment to honoring Massachusetts’ sports heritage were key in securing the passage of the bill.
Through the combined efforts of these four legislators, volleyball was officially recognized as the "Official Team and Recreation Sport of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." This designation not only honors the sport's origins in Holyoke but also celebrates its continued impact on the state’s communities. Thanks to the dedication of Senator Michael Kane, Representative Mike Knapik, Representative Aaron Vega, and Senator Don Humason, volleyball’s legacy in Massachusetts is now enshrined in state history, ensuring that the sport will be celebrated for generations to come.
Massachusetts has a rich history of leadership in sports, and volleyball's origins in the state are a point of pride. The efforts to recognize volleyball as the "Official Team and Recreation Sport of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts" highlight the dedication and passion of several key legislators who understood the cultural and historical significance of the sport to the state. Among these champions were then Massachusetts Senator Michael Kane, Massachusetts Representative Mike Knapik, Massachusetts Representative Aaron Vega, and Massachusetts Senator Don Humason, each playing a pivotal role in this landmark achievement.
Senator Michael Kane was one of the early proponents of the initiative. Understanding that volleyball was invented in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 1895 by William G. Morgan, Kane saw the designation as an opportunity to honor the sport’s legacy and its profound connection to the state. His advocacy was rooted in a deep appreciation for the sport’s historical significance and its ongoing contribution to community health and recreation across Massachusetts.
Representative Mike Knapik was also a driving force behind the movement. With a strong connection to the city of Holyoke and its residents, Knapik recognized the importance of volleyball to the community’s identity. He worked diligently to garner support from colleagues in the legislature, emphasizing how the sport's designation could further elevate Massachusetts’ cultural heritage on both a national and international stage. His efforts were instrumental in building the momentum needed to push the legislation forward.
Representative Aaron Vega brought a fresh perspective to the campaign, advocating not only for the historical recognition but also for the sport's role in promoting physical activity and community engagement. He saw the designation as a means to inspire future generations of athletes and to promote a healthy, active lifestyle among Massachusetts residents. Vega’s personal connection to the sport provided a compelling narrative that resonated with lawmakers and constituents alike.
Senator Don Humason played a crucial role in the final stages of the legislative process. A strong supporter of sports and community initiatives, Humason helped navigate the complexities of the legislative process, ensuring that the bill gained the necessary support and moved forward. His bipartisan approach and commitment to honoring Massachusetts’ sports heritage were key in securing the passage of the bill.
Through the combined efforts of these four legislators, volleyball was officially recognized as the "Official Team and Recreation Sport of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." This designation not only honors the sport's origins in Holyoke but also celebrates its continued impact on the state’s communities. Thanks to the dedication of Senator Michael Kane, Representative Mike Knapik, Representative Aaron Vega, and Senator Don Humason, volleyball’s legacy in Massachusetts is now enshrined in state history, ensuring that the sport will be celebrated for generations to come.
2023: Hector 'Picky' Soto (Puerto Rico)
Hector 'Picky' Soto (Fernando Reyes)
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Puerto Rico's Hector 'Picky' Soto Receives Inaugural IVHF Mayoral Award of Excellence
By IVHF 02/15/2023, 2:38pm ET Hector ‘Picky’ Soto, a prominent Puerto Rican volleyball player and a 2019 inductee to the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame, received the inaugural IVHF Mayoral Award of Excellence on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 in Arroyo, Puerto Rico by Joshua Garcia - IVHF Board Member and Mayor of the City of Holyoke, Massachusetts (the Birthplace of Volleyball).
Joining Mayor Garcia at the special presentation was Arroyo Mayor Mr. Eric Roman, Noel Marrero & Jesus Prieto of the Puerto Rican Volleyball Federation, Puerto Rican Senate Member Gretchen Hau, and members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Carlos Gonzalez and Pat Duffy (through her aide Juan Anderson-Burgos). Media Coverage
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