POTSDAM -- SUNY Potsdam's Crane Institute for Music Business Executive Director Carol "Kickie" Britt recently received the prestigious SupportMusic award during the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Show.

NAMM CEO Joe Lamond presented her with the medal Jan. 21 during the Crane School of Music Sandy Feldstein Music Business Roundtable.

The medal is awarded to distinguished artists, celebrities, industry leaders and public officials, according to a press release from the college.

Britt has been instrumental in arranging internships for Crane School of Music students at the NAMM Show, a music industry trade-only business show in Anaheim, Calif.

This year marks the last trip to the NAMM Show for Britt, who has been spearheading the internship program for the past 14 years.

Last month, 15 students from the Crane School of Music joined her for this year's trip, where they interned with leading music industry businesses such as Zoom, SABIAN, D'Addario, Samson and Yamaha Corp of America.

Michael Sitton, dean of SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music said, "Crane is tremendously proud of what the NAMM SupportMusic award means both in recognition of Prof. Britt's critical contributions to its music business program and in its acknowledgement of our continuing work with NAMM. Our NAMM partnership, and Prof. Britt's role in that partnership, is not only important to our newest program, music business, but resonant with our historic commitment to music education, with the goal of making music available to everyone."

Recent support from Larry E. and Gina Thomas has not only provided an important general contribution to the NAMM internship experience, but has also afforded Crane students an opportunity to participate in day-long visits with music industry professionals before their internships begin at the NAMM show.

Roland, in 2016, and Line6, in 2017, were the first two companies to host Crane students in this unique opportunity, where students were able to see firsthand the inner workings of highly successful music businesses. In addition, students benefitted from Thomas' vast experience in the music industry, coming from his executive leadership at Fender and Guitar Center.

This out-of-the-classroom experience, underwritten by Larry and Gina Thomas, has greatly enhanced the annual California trip for Crane's NAMM intern team, according to the release.

In addition to the SupportMusic medal Brit received, she has been recognized as one of College Magazine's “Top Ten Music Professors Who Inspire Us” at http://www.collegemagazine.com/top-10-music-professors-inspire-us, a fitting tribute to a music educator who will retiring June 30, 2017.

Britt holds bachelor of science and master of science degrees in music education from The Crane School of Music.

Prior to joining the Crane faculty, she spent 16 years as choral director at Adirondack Community College in Queensbury, and has taught music at every grade level in the public schools of New York State.

For more information about SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music visit www.potsdam.edu/crane.