ANNOUNCING THE 2026 SUSAN AWARD HONOREE-JENNY CARNES

WIFT TEXAS ANNOUNCES JENNY CARNES AS ITS 2026 “THE SUSAN” AWARD HONOREE

The President & CEO of San Antonio Sports Will Be Honored at The Celestial Awards™ Show On January 17th At The World-Class Tobin Center In Downtown San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO, June 26, 2025 –Today, Women in Film & Television Texas (WIFT Texas) proudly announced Jenny Carnes, President and CEO of San Antonio Sports, as the 2025 recipient of “The Susan” Award for Excellence in Sports Entertainment. The award was named in honor of Dr. Susan Blackwood at The Celestial Awards™ show in 2024. From leading major NCAA championship events to empowering youth through the power of sport, Carnes has not only elevated San Antonio as a premier sports destination but has also redefined how athletics can drive civic engagement, health, and opportunity. Her visionary leadership, community commitment, and lasting impact make her a true star in the world of sports and entertainment.

“I’m beyond humbled to have been selected to receive “The Susan” Award for Excellence in Sports Entertainment. I’ve been in the sports and entertainment industry since I was hired by Dr. Susan Blackwood in 2000, and along the way, she encouraged me to do more and reach higher. In my eyes, she was on a pedestal I never thought I could reach and made an impact I never dreamed of making. But that’s what this award is all about…paving the way for women to reach above and beyond. I’ve accomplished that with her leadership, along with the many others guiding me along the way including, Janet Holliday, Rosemary Kowalski, Sheryl Sculley, and far too many others to name (many men as well, but I’ll focus on the women in honor of this award),” continued Carnes, “I’m carrying the torch for the youth in our community, the girls who don’t have a voice, providing and promoting events across the state that can change a life, and most importantly, being a role model for the little girl who needs to know that she can do this too. That’s what drives me to keep pushing every day — my goal to transform EVERYONE through the power of sport,” said Jenny Carnes, President and CEO of San Antonio Sports.

The Celestial Awards™ honor trailblazing women of achievement in the Media & Entertainment industry, celebrating all verticals of the industry. The awards show will take place on Saturday, January 17th, at The Tobin Center’s world-class H-E-B Performance Hall in downtown San Antonio, following the Texas Media+Entertainment Summit™ on January 15th and 16th, also located at The Tobin Center. The highly produced and entertaining awards show will be hosted by actress and producer Renae Treviño, who was honored with the organization’s Theatrical & Comedy award in November 2024 at the Majestic & Empire Theatres. 

“Jenny Carnes truly embodies the life-changing power of sport. Everything she learned as an athlete — grit, focus, teamwork, leadership — she carries with her and shares with others every day as president and CEO of San Antonio Sports. Through her work, thousands of lives are touched across our city, and San Antonio shines on a national stage thanks to the major events she and her team bring to the city. I’ve seen firsthand the difference she makes, and I’m overjoyed that she is the 2026 recipient of “The Susan” Award for Excellence in Sports Entertainment being presented at The Celestial Awards™ show, especially because it honors our shared mentor, the incredible Dr. Susan Blackwood. Jenny is so deserving,” said Mary Ullmann Japhet, WIFT Texas founding Council of Commissioners member, The Celestial Awards™ producer, and San Antonio Sports board member.

“Lead by their indomitable CEO Jenny Carnes, San Antonio Sports has had far reaching global impact shining a light on Texas and tangible economic impact that since 1984 has delivered more the $1 billion in the local economy making the second largest city in Texas a proven hub of sports entertainment,” said Eileen Kret, Women in Film & Television Texas Board of Directors Vice President and Co-Executive Producer of the Texas Media+Entertainment Summit™ and The Celestial Awards™.

Jenny Carnes, President and CEO of San Antonio Sports, stands at the intersection of athletic excellence, civic leadership, and community impact. A native of Uvalde, Texas, Carnes has spent over two decades transforming San Antonio into a national sports destination while also championing the power of sports to uplift, inspire, and connect communities.

“San Antonio, the State of Texas, and quite frankly, the world has benefited from the remarkable work of San Antonio Sports since its founding in 1984, and under Jenny Carnes’ stalwart leadership, anyone in her proximity is touched by her positive attitude, powerful belief system that sport is transformative, and, her passion in setting the bar high for girls and communities to dream big and achieve,” continued Ceslie Armstrong, “Jenny Carnes is a true original who oversees a robust proven slate of programming while creating new IP like the wildly anticipated San Antonio Marathon premiering December 5, 2025. Jenny: Your WIFT Texas sisters will be there cheering you and the participants on,” said Ceslie Armstrong, Women in Film & Television Texas Board of Directors Chairwoman and Executive Producer of the Texas Media+Entertainment Summit and The Celestial Awards™

Jenny Carnes’ journey began on the court. In 1995, she earned a basketball scholarship to the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), where she was a standout All-American athlete. She graduated magna cum laude in 1999 with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Sport Management, laying the foundation for a lifetime of leadership in athletics and event strategy. Her legacy as an athlete was cemented in 2005 with her induction into the inaugural class of the UIW Athletic Hall of Fame.

Jenny Carnes’ most significant legacy may be what she’s built off the court. She joined San Antonio Sports as an intern in 1999, and through hard work, visionary leadership, and an unmatched ability to execute large-scale events, she steadily rose through the organization. Her resume reads like a who’s-who of NCAA championship events: she played a central role in organizing the 2002, 2008, 2010, 2018, and 2021 NCAA Final Fours — both men’s and women’s — and led San Antonio’s successful bid to host future championships.

In 2023, Carnes was named President and CEO of San Antonio Sports, the city’s nonprofit sports commission. Under her leadership, the organization continues to promote San Antonio as a world-class host city while also advancing youth development, healthy living initiatives, and equitable access to sports for all. She has spearheaded efforts to bring national attention to San Antonio through sporting events while never losing focus on the local impact, especially on girls and underserved communities.

Carnes’ vision has always been rooted in service. She is a passionate advocate for youth engagement, having previously led the GO Girl Sports Academy Grant Program and volunteered as a mentor and speaker for GoGirlGo! She co-led Girl Scout Troop #1386 and served on numerous civic committees, including the San Antonio Tricentennial Celebration and the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame Voting Committee.

A sought-after leader beyond sports, Carnes has been honored with multiple recognitions, including San Antonio Business Journal’s Women’s Leadership Award (2022), Sportswoman of the Year by the San Antonio Express-News (2020), and as one of the South Texas Power Players (2025). She is also a member of the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame (Class of 2010) and was named one of San Antonio’s 40 Under 40 in 2007.

Her influence spans international borders as well, having served as a FIBA Technical Delegate and a U.S. Olympic Committee media volunteer during the Athens Games in 2004.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Carnes is deeply grounded in her personal life and values. She is an active member of Madison Square Presbyterian Church and shares her life with her wife, Dr. Elizabeth Bowhay-Carnes, a hematologist-oncologist, and their two daughters, Evie and Kate.

Jenny Carnes embodies the spirit of The Celestial Awards™ by leading with excellence, integrity, and a belief that sports are more than just games. They are pathways to empowerment, unity, and transformation. Her work has not only elevated San Antonio on the national sports stage but has also touched the lives of thousands across the region and beyond.

For these achievements and her enduring legacy in sports entertainment, Women in Film & Television Texas is proud to honor Jenny Carnes for Excellence in Sports Entertainment at The Celestial Awards™ on Saturday, January 17th at The Tobin Center in downtown San Antonio, Texas.