Sports Video Group announced Penn State University Assistant Athletic Director, Media and Video Production Jim Nachtman as the recipient of the 2016 SVG College Sports Summit Pioneer Award happening at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta on June 2.

Nachtman is an alumnus of Penn State graduating in 1990 with a Telecommunications degree. He spent serving as Technical Director of Penn State Public Broadcasting form 1989 to 1999. Then, he joined the Penn State Department of Athletics' Director of Broadcast Operations in 1999. Just recently, last March he was promoted as Assistant Athletic Director of Media and Video Production, Penn State Nittany Lions reported.

The Nittany Lion cited, Nachtman had an essential role in the adoption of the Big Ten Network prior to its conference-wide launch in 2007. His contributions were instrumental in the technological infrastructure in the Pegula Ice Arena, Penn State University's state-of-the-art ice hockey facility which opened in October 2013. Additionally, he has helped in overseeing the installation of the now seventh largest video board in college football, Beaver Stadium's new 152-ft-by-37-ft video board in 2014.

Nachtman lives in State College, Pa. with his wife, Tina and their three children: Sarah, Katie and Robert. He has been an active member of the SVG College Advisory Committee and the Sports Video Group since their inceptions,

The SVG College Sports Summit Pioneer Award lauds people who have impacted innovation for video production and technology in university level and have helped the industry's advancement at large. This Award is chosen by a panel of past Pioneer Award honorees, current and former SVG College Sports Summit chairmen, senior members of the SVG College Advisory Committee and SVG staff.

SVG College Sports Summit Pioneer Award Honorees

2016 - Jim Nachtman, Pennsylvania State University
2015 - John Kvatek, University of Central Florida
2015 - Jeff Schmahl, Texas A&M University, University of Nebraska
2014 - Rick Church, Michigan State University
2013 - Mark Rodin, Florida State University
2012 - Ken Norris, University of California, Los Angeles