NEW YORK (April 8, 2026) --- Kristopher Vinski, a junior at St. Joseph's University-Brooklyn, has been selected to receive the 2026
Jim O’Connell Sports Communications Scholarship Award from the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association.
The award will be presented at the 93rd MBWA All-Met Haggerty Awards dinner scheduled Thursday, April 23, at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel & Conference Center in Tarrytown, NY. The Haggerty dinner is the longest running, media-managed college basketball awards program in the United States.
A graduate of Bridgehampton (NY) High School, Vinski is majoring in Journalism and New Media Studies, with minor concentrations in Sports Management and Coaching/History. He has been interning in both Athletic Communications at St. Joseph’s and at the
Southampton Press, and is an editor/writer at the school’s
The Joe newspaper.
His related activities in college include writing game recaps for the Bears, serving on game day event staff, and participating in record-keeping and statistical chores. He is particularly adept at interviewing athletes and coaches.
A pitcher on the St. Joe’s baseball team, Vinski has consistently placed academically on the school’s Dean’s List and the Bears scholar-athlete roster, and the Skyline Conference Academic Honor Roll, and last spring was named on the College Sports Communicators All-District Team.
“Kristopher maintains a strong work ethic and builds relationships with fellow students, coaches and administrators,” said Ronny Rios, St. Joe’s Athletic Communications manager. “He balances his responsibilities in athletic communications while maintaining an excellent academic record … he is hardworking, committed and deeply passionate about sports journalism and athletic communication.”
Vinski replied that he has a “goal of one day becoming not only a journalist, but an ambassador for” sports … “Representing St. Joseph’s is truly an honor and a privilege.”
The Oc Award, which includes a check for $4,000, represents a one-time grant to a Met area college student with studies in sports journalism, communications, information or sports management. The scholarship is named in memory of Jim O’Connell, the longtime Associated Press national college basketball editor who passed away in July 2018 at the age of 64. Oc, as he was known, was a member of the MBWA Executive Committee as well as the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
For a list of the MBWA’s previous honorees:
MBWA Jim O’Connell Sports Communications Scholarship Award (year-by-year).