USA Fencing

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — On behalf of the USA Fencing Veterans Committee, USA Fencing is delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the prestigious Veteran Fencing Lifetime Achievement Award for the 2022-23 season. 

A high honor in the fencing community, the award celebrates Veteran fencers who have made exceptional contributions to the sport within the United States. Nominations should be made using this form. The closing date for nominations is July 15, 2023.

Honorees will be announced this fall and will be celebrated at the Veterans Committee Awards Dinner at the San Jose NAC in January 2024.

"The Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award is a recognition of our community's dedication, passion, and drive," says Valerie Asher, Chair of the Veterans Committee. "It's a reflection of years of hard work, relentless practice, and enduring support to the sport and to fellow athletes. I urge our members to submit their nominations and celebrate those who have made a lasting impact on Veteran fencing."

Since 2005, the USA Fencing Veterans Committee has been honoring extraordinary individuals who have shown sustained meritorious achievement over a significant period in either Veteran athletic performance or in supporting Veteran fencing. Contributions can range from coaching, officiating, administrative support or other significant ways that have had a broad positive impact on Veteran fencing.

The list of past recipients of this high honor can be found here. While the accolade can only be awarded once to any individual, those who have previously received Veteran Fencer of the Year awards but not the Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award are eligible for consideration.

And while accomplishments made at any age within fencing are laudable, this award is meant to recognize only achievements and service to USA Fencing at the Veteran level. 

Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing, voiced his admiration for the Veterans community. 

“The dedication and commitment I've seen from the Veteran fencers in our community is inspiring,” he says. “In my time here, I've encountered many individuals whose contributions to the sport are worthy of this prestigious award. I am continually amazed at the talent, determination and spirit of service in our Veteran fencing community."

To nominate a deserving individual, one must be a Veteran fencer and a current member of USA Fencing, with each member entitled to nominate only one person for this award. The nominee must have displayed meritorious achievement in the Veteran community over a period of 10 or more years.

Those wishing to nominate someone for this prestigious award can find the nomination form here on the USA Fencing website. Please be sure to include a statement of support describing the nominee's achievements. This can be presented in either essay form or as a bulleted list of between 250 to 500 words.

Remember, the deadline for submissions for this year’s award is July 15, 2023. This is an opportunity to honor the hard work, dedication, and commitment of our Veteran fencers — and to highlight the impact they've made on the world of fencing. Let's take this moment to celebrate the strength, tenacity and talent within our ranks.