HELENA, Mont. – The Frontier Conference's commissioner Dr. Scott Crawford is excited to announce that Carroll College President Dr. John Cech is named the recipient of the Ron "Swede" Kenison award.  This award was announced Wednesday by the conference office.

The Ron "Swede" Kenison award is given annually to a recipient that promotes the conference, a long-time employee of the conference or a long-time supporter of the conference who all have made valuable contributions to the growth and well-being of the Frontier Conference.

"The Frontier Conference is forever indebted to John Cech for his tireless service to the conference and its membership," stated Crawford.  "It has been my pleasure to work directly with John these past two years and have his guiding hand provide stability, calm, and vision to see the conference become what it is today.  His efforts embody the ideals this award seeks to recognize."

Cech completed his seventh year as the President at Carroll and is set to retire from his post at the end of the month. He took over the Chair of the Frontier Council of Presidents (COP) during mid-term, when asked to provide stability to the COP.  He served two consecutive terms as the Chair of the Frontier Conference COP.

During his tenure as the Chair of the Frontier Conference COP, he was selected to serve on the NAIA Executive Committee of the COP.

The league added Arizona Christian as an associate member in football under his tenure.  In addition, Cech reviewed the application of Simpson College as an associate member, which would later be granted an associate membership in football.  

Cech assisted with the creation of a golf collaboration with the Red River Athletic Conference, enabling the Frontier Conference to maintain an automatic qualifier in golf.

He played a very active role on the membership committee which began with very important conversations with the North Star Athletic Association members.  He orchestrated the absorption of the North Star conference schools into the Frontier Conference, which will expand to 12 full-time institutions this coming fall.

This award recognizes Cech's impactful leadership and the meaningful progress he has helped facilitate within the Frontier Conference. As he prepares to retire from Carroll College, the conference thanks him for his service and congratulates him on this well-deserved honor.

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