We are proud to announce that Whitney Minnick, Staff Partner for Relay For Life of James Madison University (Virginia), has been named the 2025 Nationwide Campus Staff Partner of the Year as part of the Pat Flynn Spirit of Relay Awards. This honor recognizes an ACS staff partner who exemplifies the very best of volunteer-staff partnership and embodies the Spirit of Relay.
Whitney was nominated by Riley Phipps, student volunteer and leader with Relay For Life of JMU, who shared:
“Whitney is kind, selfless, and so caring. Her passion for Relay For Life and the people that we impact through the work that we do is inspiring. She has fearlessly, effortlessly, and gracefully led JMU Relay for the past eight years and is so loved by our community here.”
Whitney has been repeatedly praised for her strategic guidance in helping the JMU Relay chapter understand year‑over‑year fundraising progress, providing clear analysis of participant numbers, fundraising goals, and performance indicators so that student leaders can stay focused and exceed expectations each season. She is known for building strong connections both within and beyond the JMU community, creating partnerships that expand fundraising potential and strengthen the mission-driven work of Relay For Life. Students emphasized that Whitney plays an active, hands‑on role in their success, attending weekly committee, executive board, and director meetings to offer ideas, support their initiatives, and empower them to execute their goals with confidence. She makes it a priority to know each volunteer personally, even sending “get to know you” forms to better understand how to support every individual in their specific role.
Another Relay For Life of JMU student volunteer, Olivia McDonald shared,
“Whitney is so enthusiastic about Relay For Life and truly wants everyone involved to strive for their best and raise as much money as possible. She truly cares about this organization, and it is present in all her hard work.”
Whitney Minnick represents what makes Relay For Life so special—a staff partner who leads with heart, builds genuine relationships, and helps volunteers grow not just as leaders, but as people.
To view all 2025 Pat Flynn Spirit of Relay Award winners, visit RelayForLife.org/2025awards.