WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College Department of Athletics named Aaron Thompson its 2021-22 Jack Rea Athletic Staff Member of the Year. 

The award has been presented annually since the 2015-16 academic year to a member of W&J's Department of Athletics. Past winners have included Ryan Verlihay (2015-16), Mike Lesako (2016-17), Michelle Wybranowski (2017-18), Todd Young (2018-19) and Ian McDonald (2020-21). The award was not presented in 2019-20 due to COVID-19. 

Rea worked at W&J for 36 years and is a member of the The Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Washington-Greene Co. Chapter (Class of 1994) and the Washington and Jefferson College Athletic Hall of Fame (Class of 2002). He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame (2004) and Trinity High School Athletic Hall of Fame (2017). Rea passed away in 2019 at the age of 89. 

Thompson joined the W&J athletics staff as its Sports Information Director in January 2019. He is responsible for promoting all 26 varsity athletic programs throughout the calendar year.