various Awards of Excellence, National College Access Network

Posted by National College Access Network on June 29, 2015

The National College Access Network is pleased to announce a call for nominations for its annual Awards of Excellence. The awards were developed to recognize excellence in college access/success organizations, staff, and executive leadership.

NCAN is pleased to call for nominations for the following awards, generously supported by USA Funds:

The College Access Organization Award of Excellence recognizes the work of a college access program to fulfill NCAN’s mission of building, strengthening, and empowering communities committed to college access and success so that all students, especially those underrepresented in postsecondary education, can achieve their educational dreams. Nominations should include a brief description of the organization including quantitative data on the program’s positive outcomes, examples of student success, creative partnerships, and evidence-based results. A $5,000 award will be paid to the recipient organization for general operating support, scholarships, and/or professional development.

The Dr. David B. Swedlow Memorial College Access Staff Member Award of Excellence recognizes the dedication, hard work and innovation of an individual working at a college access/success program. This award is named in honor of Dr. David B. Swedlow, a practitioner who dedicated his life’s work to helping students gain access to college. Nominees for this award may include program staff, advisors, or others employed by a college access organization. Nominations should include the nominee’s bio or curriculum vitae, professional accomplishments, service to the community and details of the individual’s commitment to excellence in college access. A $1,000 award will be paid to the organization in support of professional development.

The Executive Leadership Award of Excellence recognizes the dedication and hard work of an individual serving as a college access program’s Executive Director, President or as a member of its Board of Trustees or Directors. Nominations should detail the individual’s personal service and commitment to the organization, service to the community, and contributions to the of field college access. A $1,000 award will be paid to the organization in support of a new, one-time scholarship made in honor of the recipient.

For the first time this year, NCAN will honor an institution of higher education that excels at graduating significant numbers of low-income, first-generation, and minority students.

The “To & Through” Award of Excellence” recognizes an institution (or department within) that collaborates with an NCAN member college access/success organization to ensure that the organization’s students – as well as all enrolled underrepresented students– get the supports they need to complete a two-year or four-year degree. Nominations should include quantitative data demonstrating the institution’s enrollment, persistence and completion rates for underrepresented students, description of the student supports the institution provides, and details of the relationship with the nominating NCAN member college access/success organization. The recipient institution will receive $1,000 for need-based scholarships and/or professional development.

Awards will be determined based upon demonstrated merit through letters of nomination, program descriptions, biographies of nominees and at least one letter (no longer than 2 pages) of support from an individual other than the nominator. Nominators and nominees must be NCAN members or board members of NCAN members in good standing with the exception of the “To & Through” Award of Excellence only. Programs and individuals may self-nominate. Nominations will be considered by a committee of NCAN Members. In order to be considered, complete nominations packets must be received by Thursday July 23, 2015. Nominations will only be accepted via email as a single scanned pdf attachment to Amina Anderson Pringle, Member Service Manager, at pringlea@collegeaccess.org. Late applications will not be accepted. Click here to download the nomination packet.

These awards will be presented at NCAN’s 20th Anniversary Conference to be held September 28-30, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. While nominees are not required to attend, NCAN asks that they make every effort to be present at the National Conference. For more information on the conference, please visit the 2015 National Conference Page.

We look forward to your participation and to recognizing the important work being done by NCAN members around the country. If you have any questions, please contact Amina Anderson Pringle at pringlea@collegeaccess.org or (202) 347-4848 x208.