Former Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green Earns NFHS Citation Award

BOSTON – Former Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green was honored with an NFHS Citation by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) on Sunday at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Boston.

The award is designed to honor individuals who have made contributions to the NFHS, state high school associations, athletic director and coaching professions, the officiating avocation and fine arts/performing arts programs. The NFHS Citation is one of the most highly regarded achievements in high school athletics and performing arts. Blanford-Green becomes the seventh recipient from Colorado, as Sharon Wilch (1997), Gene Bunnelle (2000), Bob Ottewill (2005), Bert Borgmann (2010), Tom Robinson (2017) and Paul Angelico (2020) are all previous Citation recipients.

Retiring in June 2022, Blanford-Green concluding a successful career in high school athletics, mostly spent at CHSAA. At the time of her retirement, she was the CHSAA commissioner, wrapping up her second stint at the association.

Joining the CHSAA staff in 1996 as an assistant commissioner, Blanford-Green later became the associate commissioner. In 2012, she was named executive director of the Nebraska School Activities Association, becoming the first African American female to lead a state association. Blanford-Green held that position until 2015, when she became assistant executive director of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.

In 2017, Blanford-Green returned to CHSAA, becoming the ninth commissioner in association history. During her time as CHSAA’s commissioner, Blanford-Green introduced several digital platforms that improved education, operations, outreach and communication. She also created a handbook committee, which helped facilitate collaborative statewide discussions prior to the passage of bylaws. Blanford-Green also led Colorado high schools to successfully complete all 31 seasons and culminating events during the pandemic.

Prior to beginning her career in education, Blanford-Green was an accomplished track and field athlete. A graduate of Aurora Central High School, she starred in track and competed in spirit and volleyball. After high school, Blanford-Green was an undefeated Big 8 Conference Champion in the indoor and outdoor hurdles and an 18-time All-American for the University of Nebraska.

In addition to being a member of the CHSAA Hall of Fame, Blanford-Green is also in the Sportswomen of Colorado Hall of Fame, the Nebraska Black Sports Hall of Fame, the University of Nebraska Hall of Fame and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. She chaired the NFHS Spirit Rules Committee, Equity Committee and Middle School Committee, and is known nationally around her efforts for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Blanford-Green is currently speaking and conducting sessions nationally and internationally as an executive member of Inclusion Matters.