JMU Athletics Honors Patty Dorfer as 2025 Sonner Award Winner

HARRISONBURG, Va. – As administrative assistant for the James Madison football program, Patty Dorfer played an integral behind-the-scenes role in the program's rise from a member of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA at the time) to now a thriving member of FBS and the Sun Belt Conference. On Saturday, Nov. 15 she was honored with the Ray V. Sonner Spirit Award in recognition of her contributions.

The Ray V. Sonner Spirit Award is presented annually to someone who embodies JMU spirit and contributes to the passion that we exhibit as supporters of James Madison University.

Dorfer first came to JMU in 1998 working in the university's financial aid office before moving to the football program upon Hall of Fame Coach Mickey Matthews' hire in 1999. Over the course of her career with the Dukes, Dorfer worked with five head coaches, hundreds of assistant coaches, an average of over 100 student-athletes per season and countless managers and support staff members.

She was with JMU for its two Division I national championships in 2004 and 2016, nine conference championships, 14 FCS playoff appearances and three ESPN College GameDay visits, while also being part of the program's reclassification to the Football Bowl Subdivision, which began in 2022. She retired following the 2024-2025 academic year, JMU's first as a fully reclassified member of the FBS.

Previous Winners of the Ray V. Sonner Spirit Award
2012 – JMU Cheerleaders – NCA National Champions
2013 – Phil Cockrell – Started Streamer Tradition
2014 – Pat & Glenda Rooney – Director of JMU Bands (1994 Sudler Trophy)
2015 – Showalter Family – Legacy family with significant long-term history of giving to athletics and ticket holders
2016 – JMU Dukettes – NDA National Champions
2017 – Jack Cavanaugh – Bridgeforth Stadium Public Address Announcer
2018 – Boyd Family (Rebecca, Elliott and Brooke) – Spirit, support and attendance across all JMU sport programs
2019 – Kathy Landis - JMU Dining
2022 – Bill Posey, Assistant Director of the Marching Royal Dukes
2025 – Patty Dorfer – JMU Football Administrative Assistant

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