Attention: You are using an outdated browser, device or you do not have the latest version of JavaScript downloaded and so this website may not work as expected. Please download the latest software or switch device to avoid further issues.


Nominations are now open for SACSA’s 2025 Awards and Recognition process. All nominations are due by September 5 at 5 PM EST. After the nomination period closes, a Co-Chair of the Awards Committee will reach out to nominees to request their resume, a detailed record of their SACSA involvement, and a high-quality photograph. The nomination is not complete until the committee has those parts of the application.

Questions regarding the nominations process may be directed to Co-Chairs Dr. Jess Wildfire and Qubanaé Hudson at awards@sacsa.org.


SACSA | Recognition & Awards

Recognition & Awards

Historic recipients listed by award. Format preserved as Name, Year.

The Melvene Draheim Hardee Award

The Melvene Draheim Hardee Award recognizes contributions to student personnel work by a member of the Association. Recognition will be for achievement in one or more of the following areas:

  • Development of a model program or concept that impacts student personnel work in the Southeast.
  • Significant research and/or publication.
  • Providing outstanding leadership in professional organizations and/or endeavors.
  • Any unique and outstanding contribution to student personnel work that calls for acceptance and acknowledgment throughout the profession.

Previous award recipients are:

Ted Miller, 1976Harold Riker, 1975Margaret Ruth Smith, 1979
Phylilis Mable, 1982Annette Gibbs, 1985Bob E. Leach, 1986
Don Gehring, 1987John Jones, 1988Roger Winston, 1989
Patricia Murrell, 1990Barbara Mann, 1991William Bryan, 1992
Glenn Stillon, 1993Gregory Blimling, 1994Anne E. Gordon, 1995
Cynthia Bonner, 1996Stanley Carpenter, 1997Bill McDonald, 1998
Mary Howard-Hamilton, 1999Diane Cooper, 2000Fred Rhodes, 2001
Gerald E. Tice, 2002Merrily S. Dunn, 2003Tony Cawthon, 2004
Almeda R. Jacks, 2005Harry Shucker, 2006Ralph Johnson, 2007
Dennis Gregory, 2008Pam Havice, 2009BJ Mann, 2010
Joelle Davis Carter, 2011April Heiselt, 2012Melanie McClellan, 2013
Deb Kladivko, 2014Adriel Hilton, 2015Aaron Hughey, 2016
Monica Galloway Burke, 2017Ellen J. Neufeldt, 2018Jane Rathbone, 2019
Daisy Waryold, 2021Fred Tugas, 2022Roland Bullard, 2023
Robert Bradley “Brad” Johnson, 2024
The Howard Davis Sr. Award

The Howard Davis Sr. Award recognizes outstanding service rendered to SACSA by a member of the Association. Recognition will be for achievements in one or more of the following areas:

  • Performance of duty above the expected.
  • Completion of a service to the Association that reflected faithful and competent achievement.
  • Development of new programs or concepts with a positive impact upon the Association.

Previous award recipients:

Mildred English, 1977Dorothy Truex, 1979Rocky Renneisen, 1980
Jean Jones, 1981Pauline Gravlee, 1982Robert Jones, 1983
John D. Jones, 1984Annie L. Cooper, 1985Garth Jenkins, 1986
Martha McGee, 1987Joe Buck, 1988Harold Hall, 1989
Richard Hudson, 1990Fred Rhodes, 1991Glenda Earwood Smith, 1992
Don Gehring, 1993Francine Madrey, 1994Gerald E. Tice, 1995
C. William McKee, 1996Wayne King, 1997Ralph Johnson, 1998
Harold Holmes, 1999Brit Katz, 2000James F. Conneely, 2002
Melanie McClellan, 2003Pam Moon, 2004Vanessa W. Smith, 2005
Tony Cawthon, 2006Mark Kidd, 2007Ann Bailey, 2008
Bob Glenn, 2009Clay Brown, 2010Laura Waltrip, 2011
Monica Burke, 2012Jane Adams-Dunford, 2013Matt Varga, 2014
Sherryl Byrd, 2015Ellen Neufeldt, 2016Deb Kladivko, 2017
Jason Cassidy, 2018Beau Seagraves, 2019Roland Bullard, 2021
Angela B. Taylor, 2022Jessica Wildfire, 2023Joslyn “Joy” Hartfield, 2024
The Bobby E. Leach Award

The Bobby E. Leach Award recognizes a student affairs professional or graduate student who has contributed significantly to developing multicultural relations on a college or university campus. Criteria are as follows:

  • Currently active in SACSA (one-year minimum membership).
  • Must have been significantly involved for at least two years in efforts that have contributed to improving multicultural relations on his/her campus.

Previous award recipients:

Aaron Lamar, 1991Ralph Johnson, 1992Dennis Golden, 1993
Brenda Richardson, 1994Charles F. Lynch, 1995Vernon Wall, 1996
Frances Lucas-Tauchar, 1998Emanuel Newsome, 1999Jane Adams-Dunford, 2000
Leon Wiles, 2001Ian Art King, 2002Gerald Spates, 2003
Monica Burke, 2004Idella Goodson Glenn, 2005Melissa Shivers, 2006
Michael Snowde, 2007Marc Shook, 2008Tanisha Jenkins, 2009
Lakiesa Cantey Rawlinson, 2010Darris Means, 2011Sabrina Brown, 2012
Creston Lynch, 2013Brit Katz, 2014Shawnboda Mead, 2015
Victoria Chan, 2016Jason Wallace, 2017Johnny Young, 2018
Tony Cawthon, 2021Relius Johnson, 2022Brittany Williams, 2023
Brian Wells Daniel, 2024
The Mid-Level Professional Award

The Mid-Level Professional Award recognizes a mid-level professional who has provided exemplary service to SACSA and on a college or university campus. Criteria are as follows:

  • Minimum of six years of full-time professional experience supervising, maintaining budgets, and/or programming in a higher education setting.
  • Current membership for at least three full years and active involvement in SACSA.
  • Demonstrated service to the profession and his/her institution (e.g., presented a paper or workshop locally or at a state, regional, or national conference, conducted research, mentored graduate students and new professionals, campus committee involvement, and professional association involvement)
  • Attended at least three SACSA-affiliated professional development conferences, workshops, or activities.
  • Possess outstanding character and potential role model stature for new and mid-level professionals.

Previous award recipients:

Matt Clifford, 2013Shawnboda Mead, 2014Aretha Milligan, 2015
Larry Correll-Hughes, 2016 Kathy Meyer, 2017Reginald Lane, 2018
Kyle Williams, 2019Angela B. Taylor, 2021Kim Bullington, 2022
Justavian Tillman, 2023Veneta Fricks, 2024
The New Professional Award

The New Professional Award recognizes a new professional who has provided exemplary service to SACSA. Criteria are as follows:

  • No more than five years of full-time experience in student affairs.
  • Current membership for at least one full year and active involvement in SACSA.
  • Demonstrated service to the profession (e.g., presented a paper, held a workshop, conducted research, demonstrated leadership) and showed promise to become a leader in the field.
  • Attended at least two SACSA-affiliated professional development conferences, workshops, or activities.
  • Possess outstanding character and potential role model stature for other new professionals.

Previous award recipients:

Sissy Whitlock, 1991Ted Scharre, 1992Terri Ducker, 1993
Beth Campbell, 1994Glenn S. Bryant, 1995Denisha Sanders, 1996
Corey King, 1997Janice Gerweck, 1998Bonita Fields Vinson, 1999
Bobbie Jean (BJ) Mann, 2000Jennie Royal, 2001Joelle Davis Carter, 2002
Roland N. Bullard, Jr., 2003Dwaun Warmack, 2004Kevin Jacques, 2005
Linda Jameison, 2006Brianne Meagher, 2007Terrell Strayhorn, 2008
Shawnboda Mead, 2009Khorey Baker, 2010Alison Brown, 2011
April Sith, 2012Aubrey Holt, 2013Cordarius McLean, 2014
Christina Wan, 2015Kristin Walker, 2016
Zach Blackmon, 2017
Joshua McKee, 2018Dashan Axson-Lawrence, 2019Molly Callahan, 2021
Brooke White, 2022Karalina Katsiuchenka, 2023Jazmine Kelley, 2024
The Outstanding Graduate Student Award

The Outstanding Graduate Student Award recognizes graduate students for their academic achievement, campus involvement, and potential for significant contributions to the student affairs profession. Criteria are as follows:

  • Enrolled as a full-time student pursuing master's or doctoral work in a Student Affairs-related degree program, to pursue a career within Student Affairs.
  • Demonstrated academic achievement.
  • Active involvement and leadership roles in campus activities and organizations.
  • Possess a paraprofessional or intern-related position within the Student Affairs Division.

Previous award recipients:

Reginald Lane, 2011Emilie Cravens, 2012
Tekita Bankhead, 2013
Janice Hicks, 2014Fred Tugas, 2015Christopher Ndiritu, 2017
Preston Reilly, 2018Cassidy Nelson, 2019Trevis Belle, 2021
Melanie Graham, 2022Shandreka McCullough, 2023Caroline Parris, 2024
The Joe Buck Service Award

The Joe Buck Service Award recognizes the long-term membership and service of Dr. Joseph A. Buck, Vice President for Student Affairs at Armstrong Atlantic State University to the Southern Association for College Student Affairs. Dr. Buck currently serves as SACSA's inaugural Executive Director, a position for which he has volunteered since 2001. Before this role, Dr. Joe Buck has served SACSA with distinction since 1973.

The Joe Buck Service Award shall be presented to a dependable and dedicated SACSA member who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the Association. Criteria are as follows:

  • Minimum of five years of SACSA membership.
  • Demonstrated record of committee service and/or leadership.
  • Has not served as an elected officer.
  • Has not received prior award recognition from SACSA.
  • Viewed by SACSA colleagues as a role model, mentor, and unsung hero of the Association.

Previous award recipients:

Kevin Koett, 2004Lisa D. Skelton, 2005Bill Kelso, 2006
Kenneth Posner, 2007Roger Becks, 2008Rusty Guill, 2009
Deb Kladivko, 2010Bobby Woodard, 2011Dean Smedley, 2013
Lauren Rust, 2014 Jason Cassidy, 2015Don Stansberry, 2016
Dena R. Kneiss, 2018Matthew J. Smith, 2019Danielle K. Molina, 2021
Michelle Boettcher, 2022Sonja Ardoin, 2023Brian Bourke, 2017
Andy Lewter, 2024
Ted K. Miller Award for Excellence

CAS established the Ted K. Miller Award for Excellence to recognize outstanding accomplishments in advancing standards of practice and quality assurance in educational programs and services in higher education. The enhancement of student learning and development remains at the very core of the mission of the Council for the Advancement of Standards. CAS presents the Ted K. Miller Award to an individual based on the following criteria:

  • Outstanding leadership or creative initiative are exhibited in promoting standards in higher education and/or in the field of student learning and development.
  • Significant publications and/or other professional activities have been accomplished in the field of standards, their application, and relevant assessment of student learning and development.

CAS standards are reflected, and the goals of CAS are promoted in publications and in facilitated assessment activities. They are also significantly included in their work and/or through professional activities.

Previous award recipients:

Laura Dean, 2015Pam Havice, 2016Tony Cawthon, 2017
Dorian McCoy, 2018Kristin Walker Donnelly, 2021
Ralph Johnson, 2022
Mary Alice Varga, 2023Dena Kniess, 2024
The Dissertation of the Year

The Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA) annually presents a Dissertation of the Year Award (DOY) to recognize high-quality research by doctoral students in student affairs in the SACSA region.

Previous award recipients:

James L. McBride, 1982Nancy Kane, 1983Marilyn M. Buck, 1985
R. Thomas Fitch, 1987Katherine Ford Spanton, 1988Nancy Zimmerman, 1989
Scott Ingold, 1990Bettie J. Glenn, 1991James Conneely, 1992
Ralph Johnson, 1993Jeffrey C. Long, 1994
Charles L. Donlin, Jr. (Runner-Up)
Sherryl A. Byrd, 1995
Phyllis McCluskey-Titus, 1996Leanne Newman, 1999Robert A. Littleton, 2001
David Jones, 2002Jennifer Lease, 2003Olga Rbalkina, 2004
Susan Martin, 2005Jason Cassidy, 2006 (tie) Ivan Harrell, 2006 (tie)
Michael Shutt, 2007C. Ryan Akers, 2008Sarah Keeling, 2009
Matthew Clifford, 2010Jodi Fisler, 2011Rebecca Jane Caldwell, 2012
Claire Robbins, 2013Helen Diamond-Steele, 2013
Ben Stubbs, 2014
David Smith, 2015Steve D. Mobley, Jr., 2016Ashley Nicole Stone, 2017
Justin Grimes, 2018Brittany M. Williams, 2019Dustin Evatt-Young, 2020
Roshaunda Breeden, 2021
J'nai Adams (Runner-Up), 2021
Craig Steven Pickett, 2022
Konadu Gyamfi (Runner-Up), 2022
Claire DePalma, 2023
Dashana Lane (Runner-Up), 2023
Wanda Johnson, 2024(Runner-Up), 2024 — add name
Research Grant Awards

SACSA encourages scholarly inquiry among its members by annually awarding small grants to advance proposed research projects. Any individual or research team may apply for these competitive grants. The typical award granted to a single project is $500. However, the selection committee may choose to award funds over this amount to grant proposals they feel are exceptional. Multiple research grants may be awarded in a given year, depending on the funding availability and the selection committee's discretion.

Research grants will be awarded to an individual(s) who meets the following qualifications:

  • The individual submitting the proposal must be a SACSA member at the time of the application.
  • At least one applicant on the proposal must be affiliated with an institution located in the SACSA region (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia) while actively engaged in the proposed research.
  • The proposed research must advance inquiries related to student affairs and be relevant to SACSA membership.

Previous award receipients:

C. Ryan Akers, 2008Linda Jameison, 2009Tammy Kahrig, 2009
S. Regina Sargent, 2009Melissa Gruver, 2010Beau Seagraves, 2010
Stacie Williams, 2010Helen Diamond Steele, 2011Jean Oldham, 2011
Emilie Cravens, 2012Darrius Means, 2012Jonathan L. Johnson, 2012
Sirena Cantrell, 2012Adriel Hilton, 2015J.W. Decker, 2016
Tiffany J. Davis, 2016Cynthia R. Polk-Johnson, 2016Aris L. Hall, 2017
Leonard Taylor, 2017Melvin A. Whitehead, 2017Brittany M. Williams, 2017
Jemilia Davis, 2018Dustin Evatt-Yound, 2018Lamesha Andrews, 2018
Katherine Burr, 2018Merrily Dunn, 2018 Ashley McMillan, 2019
Jason K. Wallace & Varselles Cummings, 2019Valerie Beth Glassman, 2019Joshua Burns, 2023
Matthew Smith, 2023Morgan Danyi, 2023
Lifetime Honorary Memberships

Lifetime Honorary Memberships shall be presented to long-term members of SACSA who have made notable contributions to SACSA and the College Student Affairs Profession. Criteria are as follows:

  • Should no longer be eligible for regular membership.
  • Should have been a regular member for at least seven years.
  • Should have been actively involved in SACSA by serving in some leadership capacity, either as a committee chair and/or participating in at least one of the SACSA-sponsored professional development activities (i.e., the annual conference, Mid-Managers’ Institute or New Professionals’ Institute) as a coordinator or presenter.

Recipients:

  • Bill McDonald, 2024

Address

101 Gantt Circle, 211B Tillman, Clemson, SC, United States, South Carolina

Follow us on Social

This website is powered by
ToucanTech