Commission for Professional Preparation Research and Writing Awards

Research and Writing Awards 

Important Updates for the 2021 Award Cycle: 

• We are not planning to award the Nevitt Sanford Award

• While we are looking forward to recognizing exceptional student work, this year the research and writing awards will not include a monetary prize

Application Procedures

Each year, the Professional Preparation Commission acknowledges the outstanding scholarship of graduate students in higher education and student affairs programs through the presentation of research and writing awards. We are pleased to announce the criteria, application process, and deadline for this year’s awards process. Recipients will be recognized at the annual ACPA National Convention.

There are currently four research and writing awards in the Professional Preparation Commission. They include:

• Burns B. Crookston Doctoral Research Award
• Gerald Saddlemire Masters Research Award
• Roberta Christie Essay Award
• Nevitt Sanford Award (Award is suspended for 2020-21 academic year)

The purpose of these awards is to honor the writing and research of students enrolled (and those who earned their degrees between March 2019-August 2020) in graduate preparation programs in student affairs or higher education. Graduate students need not be a member of ACPA to apply for a writing award, although it is highly encouraged that graduate students join the Association.

Prepare your entry as follows:

• Entries for all awards must be submitted electronically.  Please limit your submission to only one award per award cycle.
• Save as an MSWord or PDF document, Submissions must name files with the first few words of the award name and title of the submission. For example: Crookson Student Campus Climate. Your name or institutional affiliation should not appear anywhere on the document. Entries will be masked for anonymous review.
• Submit your entry via the designated online form.  [https://form.jotform.com/201944798177975]
• Directions for submission: After selecting "Professional Preparation" from the dropdown box on the main submission page, click the specific award for which you are applying. Fill in your own information under the "Person/Group being Nominated: Individual, Institution, or Group" (you do not need to complete the top half of the form under "Nominator" since all of our CPP awards are self-nominated). Under "Upload Nomination Letter and Other Materials," upload materials for your specific award (you do not need a nomination letter for CPP awards).
• Upload your file as a MSWord or PDF document. Submissions must name files with the first few words of the award name and title of the submission. For example: Crookson Student Campus Climate. Your name or institutional affiliation should not appear anywhere on the document.
• The deadline for sending entries is November 16, 2020 via online form (note: date on form might still say Nov 6. due to deadlines of other entity groups). If you have any questions or need assistance with the submission process, please contact Drs. Reginald Blockett (blocketr@gvsu.edu), Conor McLaughlin (conorpm@bgsu.edu), or Rachel Smith (rsmith2@iastate.edu).. Please note that late submissions will not be considered.

Entries not prepared in this manner will not be considered for an award. he judges reserve the right to make no award in any category.

Description of Awards

Burns B. Crookston Doctoral Research Award
This award recognizes research by a doctoral student or students which must entail original, journal-quality, research that brings greater understanding to the learning or development of students or the organization and administration of student affairs practice. The award is $400. (Please note the monetary award is suspended for 2021).

Submissions should not exceed 7,500 words (approximately 30 double-spaced pages), including references, tables, and figures. All writing must strictly conform to the American Psychological Association 7th edition style manual. Content and style should be appropriate for a professional journal in higher education.  Click here for a list of past recipients.

Gerald Saddlemire Masters Research Award
Submissions must be from students in a Master’s student affairs graduate preparation program (or someone who graduated December 2018, Spring 2019, or Summer 2019). Submissions must entail original, journal quality research that gives insight into the learning or development of students or the organization and administration of student affairs practice. The amount of the award is $400. (Please note the monetary award is suspended for 2020-21).

Submissions must not exceed 3,500 words (approximately 15 double-spaced pages), including references, tables, and figures. All writing must strictly conform to the American Psychological Association 7th edition style manual. Content and style should be appropriate for a professional journal in higher education.  Click here for a list of past recipients.

Roberta Christie Essay Award

This award is presented to a current graduate student for writing an essay that best captures the learning goals of the convention.The amount of the award is $200 (Please note the monetary award is suspended for 2020-21). Please describe how you will benefit in at least two of the goal areas by attending the convention. After attending the convention, participants will be able to: 

• Identify learning scenarios in uncommon places, including and beyond traditional educational programs, to maximize professional growth opportunities;
• Discuss global and contemporary critical concepts in higher, post-secondary, and tertiary education;
• Examine perspectives on scholarship and practice to expand viewpoints and apply new understandings;
• Demonstrate an increase in active use of the ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies;
• Construct meaningful connections with other student and academic affairs and services professionals;
• Develop a plan to reflect on and take their learning back to their professional home. 

Entries must not exceed five double-spaced pages (excluding any references). Click here for a list of past recipients.

Nevitt Sanford Award
Please note we are not accepting Sanford applications for 2021

The purpose of this award is to provide financial assistance for research within student affairs. The award may be used to help support dissertations, theses, or specific graduate student research projects. The amount of the award is $400.

Entries must not exceed three double-spaced pages (excluding references). Entries must address the purpose, methodology, and significance of the research and how the award money would be spent.  Click here for a list of past recipients.

Past Award Winners