Daryl Buente (pronounced BEN-tee), Head Equipment Manager for the University of Evansville athletics department, was chosen to receive the Athletic Equipment Managers Association Service Award at the AEMA national convention in Chattanooga, Tenn. The award was presented by AEMA Executive Director Jon Falk for Buente's longtime service to UE and the national association.

Buente has been equipment manager at UE since 1981. He was honored as the 2005 District 5 Equipment Manager of the Year by the AEMA. District 5 includes all professional, college and high school AEMA members in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. He has been editor of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association Journal since 2001, a member of the AEMA Certification Steering Committee since 2001, and was a speaker at the 2003 national convention.

Buente cares for equipment and uniforms at virtually every UE home athletic event, and assists in maintaining the University's playing facilities. He also oversees a large staff of student managers who serve all 14 varsity sports teams at UE.

A 1968 graduate of Evansville North High School and 1972 graduate of the University of Evansville, Buente is a lifetime member of Pi Gamma Mu, the national social science honor society. Buente is chairman of the pastoral care team and president of the Seekers Sunday School class at First Baptist Church in Evansville. He also serves the UE Alumni Board as class agent for the UE Class of '72. He and his wife, Retha, have two sons, Jeremy (a 2008 UE graduate), and Jeffrey, a student at UE.