Awards Overview

The Graduate Students and New Professionals Community of Practice (GSNPCoP) would like to recognize contributions to the field through the bi-monthly Outstanding Program Award, bi-monthly FreshMaker Award, and the coveted Convention Awards. Please see below for award details and nomination forms. We define a "new professional" as an individual in their first five years of professional (post-graduate) employment.

Call for Awards Reviewers

For this upcoming academic year, we are looking for volunteers to review award nominations submitted for our bi-monthly and Convention awards. You could volunteer for bi-monthly, Convention, or both. For bi-monthly awards, we'll send you an email bi-monthly to elicit votes, and once for Convention awards around November.

Sign up now

Outstanding Program Award

This award recognizes outstanding programs created/coordinated by graduate students and/or new professionals that have been innovative, impactful, or unique to its institution and/or the field of Student Affairs. To be considered, the program must have taken place in the last 6 months and can include in person, virtual or hybrid programs. The GSNPCoP will recognize five bi-monthly awards based off the timeline below:

August/September Outstanding Program
October/November Outstanding Program
December/January Outstanding Program
February/March Outstanding Program
April/May Outstanding Program

Nominate a program here

 

The FreshMaker Award

This award recognizes graduate students and new professionals who bring fresh perspective, energy, service, innovation; as well as high levels of participation and contribution to their host institution. Ideal nominations would display the nominee's participation in either the GSNPCoP, ACPA, or other SA related organizations/entities. The FreshMaker is a great way to recognize consistent and tireless work that has been creative and impactful, but may not have been publicly awarded yet.

August/September Freshmaker 
October/November Freshmaker
December/January Freshmaker
February/March Freshmaker
April/May Freshmaker

Submit your nominations here.

Convention Awards

GSNPCoP honored six individuals with the following awards during the ACPA 2021 Convention: Outstanding Masters Student, Outstanding Doctoral Student, Outstanding New Professional, Outstanding Mentor to Graduate Students, Outstanding Mentor to New Professionals, Outstanding Dedication to Professional Service. Please see below for award information/criteria.

2022 Convention Award submissions will open in fall 2021.

  1. Outstanding Master’s Student -This award is given to a current master’s degree student in a higher education or student affairs related program -The recipient of this award will have made a positive contribution (either through research or service to the profession) to the field of student affairs and/or has made significant contributions to their graduate program and institution
  2. Outstanding Doctoral Student -This award is given to a current doctoral student in a higher education or student affairs related program -The recipient of this award will have made a positive contribution (either through research or service to the profession) to the field of student affairs and/or has made significant contributions to their graduate program and institution
  3. Outstanding New Professional -This award is given to an individual in their first five years of professional (post-graduate) employment -The recipient of this award will have demonstrated outstanding contributions to their department, institution, and the field of student affairs (either through research or professional service) -This individual should demonstrate a propensity for developing students and utilizing theory in practice
  4. Outstanding Mentor to Graduate Students -This award is given to an outstanding student affairs professional or graduate preparation faculty member who goes above and beyond in their efforts to provide guidance and support to graduate students in higher education or a student affairs related graduate program
  5. Outstanding Mentor to New Professionals -This award is given to an outstanding student affairs professional who goes above and beyond in their efforts to provide guidance and support to new practitioners in the field of Student Affairs
  6. Outstanding Dedication to Professional Service -This award is given to a new professional or graduate student in higher education or a student affairs related field who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to the field of student affairs through involvement in professional associations (both local, regional, and national), committees, conferences, and/or graduate program recruitment

2021 Convention Award Winners

  • Trevis Belle - Outstanding Masters Student

  • Demarcus Merritt - Outstanding Doctoral Student

  • Pilar Nelson - Outstanding New Professional

  • Tye Wesley - Outstanding Mentor to Graduate Students

  • Matthew Cowley - Outstanding Mentor to New Professionals

  • Janelle Morris - Outstanding Dedication to Professional Service

 

image of 2021 convention award winners with their headshots, names, and award received