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Region I Awards

Click here to submit an Awards Nomination for Region I.

Each Year Region I celebrates its outstanding professionals through its Region I awards process. These awards are given out annually at the Regional Conference and recognize both state and regional recipients. The Awards provide the opportunity for regional NASPA members to acknowledge the efforts and professional contributions of current and future professionals who have demonstrated exemplary service, commitment to students, a desire to achieve, and outstanding leadership.

The following menu and links provide easy navigation for the awards page.

Nomination Process | State Awards | Regional Awards


2008 Award Nominations

It is time to begin our process for recognizing and honoring colleagues who have demonstrated exemplarily service, commitment to our students, a desire to achieve, and outstanding leadership. The following includes descriptions of all our awards.

Any questions about the process should be directed to Kristen K. Salemi at ksalemi@ric.edu or 401-456-8538.

Please take a few moments to review all the awards, while considering your own campus colleagues, or perhaps someone from another campus that has impressed you with their outstanding program, or leadership ability. We have planned a comprehensive program of recognition at our Region I Conference, November 9-12, 2008 at The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, MA.

All nominations for awards must be handled on line through the NASPA web page. Please click on the following link to make your nominations for State and Regional Awards:

Region 1 Awards Nomination

The deadline for submitting all award nominations is October 15, 2008.

To assist you with your process, please have the following information available and ready to be uploaded before entering the site:
  1. Nominee’s name, institution, title, address
  2. For a National Award nomination, you will need to upload a copy of their resume, and a maximum of three letters of support. The winners will be announced at the regional conference in November.
  3. For a State Award nomination, you will need to upload a maximum of three letters of support.

The appropriate State Director will contact all nominees and ask for their resume before the review and selection process begins. The winners will be announced at the regional conference in November.

If you have the required documentation available prior to entering the site, the process can be completed quickly and efficiently. Every nomination must be submitted through the web site.

State Awards

All State Award nominees will be reviewed by the appropriate State Director and his/her Selection Committee.

Catch a Rising Star Scholarship (undergraduate student)

  • Has made a significant contribution to the home campus
  • Demonstrated academic achievement
  • Exceeded the expectations of their respective leadership positions
  • Shown an interest in the field of student affairs
  • Recipient receives a scholarship in the amount of their registration cost for the Fall Conference

Richard F. Stevens Outstanding Graduate Student

  • Has made a significant contribution to the home campus
  • Demonstrated academic achievement
  • Exceeded the expectations of their respective leadership positions
  • Assumed a leadership role at their institution and/or at the state or regional levels
  • Demonstrated an interest in the field of student affairs
  • Recipient receives a scholarship in the amount of their registration cost for the Fall Conference

Richard F. Stevens Outstanding New Professional

  • Served four or fewer years in a full time position in higher education
  • Has made significant contributions to both the institution and the profession
  • Recipient receives a scholarship in the amount of their registration cost for the Fall Conference
  • One of the six recipients of the New Professional Award will be selected as the Region I Outstanding New Professional for national recognition

Mid-Level Student Affairs Professional

  • Served a minimum of five years as a Student Affairs
  • Demonstrates an outstanding commitment to the profession
  • Has contributed to programs that address the needs of students
  • Is experienced in creating campus environments that promote student learning and person development
  • One of the six recipients of the Mid-Level Professional Award will be selected as the Region I Outstanding Mid-Level Professional for national recognition.

Program of the Year

  • Programs must have been implemented and evaluated within the three previous years
  • Programs will be evaluated on:
    1. innovation and creativity
    2. contribution to student development and/or professional development
    3. contribution to the home institution
    4. timeliness of topic
  • One of the six recipients of the Program of the Year Award will be selected as the Region I Exemplary Program for national recognition


Regional Awards

All Regional Awards will be reviewed by a Regional Selection Committee.

Distinguished Accomplishment

Presented to a Region I member who has distinguished his/herself in the field of student affairs administration: through leadership in the profession, contributions to the literature as an editor, author or researcher, or as an educator contributing to the training of new professionals.

Continuous Service Award

Continuous service award recipients exemplify the spirit of volunteerism as it applies to NASPA at the state, regional or national level. The nominee should have a record of significant involvement in Region I, which may include active committee membership, board membership, conference presentation or volunteer service.

Institutional Leadership Award

In recognition of a professional who has contributed significantly to the growth and development of his/her home institution in the areas of programs, policies, staff or student development.

NEEED Award

The Network for Educational Equity and Ethnic Diversity (NEEED) annually acknowledges an individual, member institution or individual program, which "embraces the values inherent in racial and ethnic groups through commitment to individual and community understanding." Nominations may consider the constituents involved the impact on the campus and the program goals and objectives. Schools may nominate their own programs.

Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean*

This award is given to a dean who has demonstrated sustained professional service in student affairs work, high-level competency in administrative skills, innovative response in meeting students' varied and emerging needs, effectiveness in developing junior staff members, and leadership in community and university affairs. This award recipient must have also earned stature among and support of students, faculty, and fellow administrators on his or her campus and made significant contributions to the field through publications or professional involvement. This award honors NASPA's founding president (1919-20) and former dean of men at the University of Wisconsin.

* The winner of this category will also be forwarded to the NASPA national office for consideration for recognition at the national level.

The President's Award*

This award is a special recognition given to a college or university president who has, over a sustained period of time, advanced the quality of student life on campus by supporting student affairs staff and programs. Nominees must show evidence of direct involvement in enhancing the quality of student life on campus, active attempts to involve students and student life staff in governing the institution, and demonstrable contributions to the profession which have an impact beyond an individual campus.

* The winner of this category will also be forwarded to the NASPA national office for consideration for recognition at the national level.

Outstanding Contribution to Literature or Research*

Nominees for this award must demonstrate professional commitment to student affairs administration. Their literature and/or research will be judged by how well student affairs practitioners use it. The literature and/or research should be applicable to national use and not restricted to local or regional application. (This award is not intended as recognition of publication or research sponsored by or under the auspices of NASPA.)

* The winner of this category will also be forwarded to the NASPA national office for consideration for recognition at the national level.

Outstanding Contribution to Higher Education*

This award is reserved for one who has rendered service in programs, policies, or research that has made a national impact; and who has contributed to the broad reach of higher education.

* The winner of this category will also be forwarded to the NASPA national office for consideration for recognition at the national level.