The NVBA Sara Goodwin Attendance Award

SARA ELIZABETH GOODWIN passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly during a routine hospital procedure Thursday, August 6, 2009, at the age of 65. Sara was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and, in addition to raising two sons, was an environmental engineer with the U.S. Corps of Engineers and a volunteer at the White House. She was an avid gardener and bird watcher, and without question loved the game of bridge. She achieved the rank of NABC Master, one step away from Life Master, early in 2009. Sara was a constant presence at the Thursday night NVBA Unit Game and attended all of the NVBA Sectionals as well. In fact, Sara was the NVBA member who participated in the most NVBA-sponsored events in 2008. At Ron Kral's suggestion, the NVBA board established the annual Sara Goodwin award. The trophy is presented each year to the bridge player(s) who played in the most NVBA Unit Game and NVBA Sectional events from December of the previous year to November of the current year, and is awarded at the annual Holiday Party in December. The winner does not have to be an NVBA member. The winner's name is engraved on the permanent trophy, and the winner receives a small personal trophy to keep. There are many awards for success at the table, but this trophy is different. It rewards dedication to the game of bridge and support of the NVBA games. Remarkably, the first year's award was a tie between an A player, a B/C player and a 199er.

No Sara Goodwin Attendance Award was presented from 2020 through 2025. The award was reinstated for the 2026 Holiday Party.

Point your cursor at a name in color below to see pictures of the winners.