Thor was honored as the AVCA Grant Burger Media Award Winner as the NCAA Division III NECVA Region SID of the Year for men’s volleyball. It is the second consecutive year he has received the accolade in men’s volleyball.     

Additionally, he was selected as the NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region AVCA Grant Burger Media Award Winner for women’s volleyball. It was the first time he was honored as the top women’s volleyball SID in the region.               

Thor was the only Division III sports information director in the nation honored for both men’s and women’s volleyball this season, and one of only two professionals in any division to receive multiple awards.              

The 2005-06 season marked the second year that the AVCA has honored the nation’s college sports information directors for contributions to the sports of men’s and women’s volleyball. Overall, the AVCA honored 24 sports information professionals nationwide across Division I, II, and III for women’s volleyball, and six for men’s volleyball. Nationally, Thor was one of only three Division III SIDs selected for men’s volleyball and eight for the women’s game.               

“I truly appreciate being recognized by such a great organization as the AVCA, which does a wonderful job of spreading the word about this sport, while chronicling the achievements of the best players and teams in the nation,” said Thor. “I have a deep passion for the sport of volleyball and I’m happy to be able to give back in any way I can.”               

“I have to thank Bill Kauffman and Mike McNeely from the AVCA Communications office, who are such a pleasure to work with, and coaches David Hildebrandt of Newbury College and Craig Kolek from Rivier College for nominating me. Most importantly, I have to thank NJCU head coach Christopher Feliciano and the entire men’s and women’s volleyball teams. Their hard work on the court to become dynamic and highly successful programs makes my job easy.” 

In addition to his duties at NJCU, Thor has also served as Sports Information Director for the 36-school North East Collegiate Volleyball Association—the largest conference in the nation in any sport or Division—for five seasons, since assuming that role prior to the 2002 campaign. As conference SID, Thor publishes the NECVA’s weekly report and selects the league’s award winners, while also compiling statistical leaders, standings, and results.               

At NJCU, he is responsible for all aspects of sports media relations for the University’s 15-team athletics program. He has focused heavily on expanding the Gothic Knights’ internet presence, developing the athletics website, increasing print and television media exposure, expanding publicity efforts including the hometown newspapers of NJCU’s athletes, and conducting research while overhauling the athletic department’s historical records.  

A graduate of William Paterson University, he is an active member of CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) and ECAC-SIDA.