DEKALB, Ill. – NIU Associate Athletic Director for Brand and Equipment Management Paige Shinberg was honored with the 2026 Glenn Sharp Award by the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) on Monday (June 15). The Glenn Sharp Award is the most prestigious award presented by the AEMA and is presented to the individual who has contributed the most to the promotion, development and progress of the AEMA, especially in the past year.

Shinberg began her current role at NIU in 2023 and oversees both NIU Athletics equipment operations as well as its retail store, Victor E. Threads. She began her career as student manager on the Huskie Equipment Operations staff, earning her bachelor's degree from NIU in 2014 before joining the staff full-time. In 2016, Shinberg was promoted to Head Equipment Manager at NIU. 

She moved on to Temple University in 2019, spending four years as Head Equipment Manager for football for the Owls before returning to NIU. 

Shinberg led the Women of the AEMA group from 2018-22. She has served on the Program Committee (2019-2022), served as CSC Chairperson (2022-2025), and District 2 Secretary (2021-2022) within the organization. 

Named after one of the founding fathers of the AEMA, Glenn Sharp served as the Head Equipment Manager at Bowling Green State University for 37 years and served in many leadership positions as the AEMA grew. His wife, Helen, served as the AEMA's National Office Manager for twenty years before they both retired in 1994. Glenn was the first recipient of this award in 1978, which is presented at the National Convention in June to the individual who has contributed the most to the promotion, development and progress of the AEMA, especially in the past year.