NASPA South Carolina

The Commitment to Inclusive Excellence award recognizes a professional’s efforts to advance diversity and inclusion in education. Nominee should:

• be recognized by students and colleagues as an advocate who takes a stand on critical issues related to diversity, and inclusion,
• provided leadership and direction in fostering a culture of respect for multicultural values and the acceptance of individual and group differences.

The winner must be member of NASPA South Carolina. NASPA South Carolina membership is determined by an individual having a NASPA membership that is connected to South Carolina address. Nominees are encouraged to have an active NASPA membership by March 28,2025.

PAST AWARD WINNERS

• 2024- Shelley Dempsey
• 2023- Sonia Badesha
• 2023- Melissa Brannen
• 2022- Florencia Cornet

The purpose of this award is to recognize a professional’s work at the campus level in the area of student programs. The nominee should have:

• Made contributions above and beyond the assigned duties of their position,
• A commitment to personalized student experiences and evidence of successful efforts in humanizing the campus community,
• High quality interaction with individual students and student groups
• Consistently give time and effort towards counseling, advising and supporting students. 

The winner must be member of NASPA South Carolina. NASPA South Carolina membership is determined by an individual having a NASPA membership that is connected to South Carolina address. Nominees are encouraged to have an active NASPA membership by March 28,2025.

PAST AWARD WINNERS

2024- Alisa Liggett

2023- N/A

2022- N/A

The Outstanding HBCU/MSI Professional award recognizes an individual member with demonstrated leadership and commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), minority serving institutions, and/or the profession. Nominees should have:

• made significant contributions to in advocacy for HBCU/MSI,
• exhibits care in creating a campus environment that promotes student learning and personal development
• be currently employed at an HBCU/MSI in South Carolina with at least two years of HBCU/MSI experience.

The winner must be member of NASPA South Carolina. NASPA South Carolina membership is determined by an individual having a NASPA membership that is connected to South Carolina address. Nominees are encouraged to have an active NASPA membership by March 28,2025.

PAST AWARD WINNERS

2024- N/A

2023- N/A

2022- N/A

The Outstanding Graduate Professional award recognizes the outstanding contributions by a graduate student, master's or doctoral level in a student affairs or related degree. The award is not for individuals currently employed full-time while also completing a graduate degree. Nominees should have:

• made a significant contribution to their campus,
• demonstrated academic achievement,
• exceeded the expectations of their respective leadership positions,
• assumed a leadership role at their institution and demonstrated an interest in the field of student affairs, and/or in higher education.
• a graduate assistantship or internship experience in a student affairs department. 

The winner must be member of NASPA South Carolina. NASPA South Carolina membership is determined by an individual having a NASPA membership that is connected to South Carolina address. Nominees are encouraged to have an active NASPA membership by March 28,2025.

PAST AWARD WINNERS

2024- Curtis Pernell

2023- Deja Kenion

2022- Jasmine Carter

The Outstanding New Professional award recognizes outstanding contributions by a higher education and student affairs professional within their first three years of full-time employment. Nominees should have:

• demonstrated initiative,
• contributed to programs that address the needs of students and the institution,
• created campus environments that promote student learning and personal development.

The winner must be member of NASPA South Carolina. NASPA South Carolina membership is determined by an individual having a NASPA membership that is connected to South Carolina address. Nominees are encouraged to have an active NASPA membership by March 28,2025.

PAST AWARD WINNERS

2024- Amanda Oliver

2023- N/A

2022- Patrick Riccards

The Outstanding Service as HESA Faculty award recognizes the consistent and exemplary teaching and mentorship of graduate students in higher education and student affairs programs at South Carolina colleges and universities. Nominees should:

• have a record of scholarly achievement through publications and conference presentations,
• made significant efforts to collaborate with students on publications or conference presentations,
• be recognized as a mentor by students entering the profession.

The winner must be member of NASPA South Carolina. NASPA South Carolina membership is determined by an individual having a NASPA membership that is connected to South Carolina address.  Nominees are encouraged to have an active NASPA membership by March 28,2025.

PAST AWARD WINNERS

2024- N/A

2023- Dr. Debbie Conner

2022- N/A

The Outstanding Technical College Professional award recognizes an individual member with demonstrated leadership and commitment to technical colleges in South Carolina, and/or the profession. The nominee should have:

• made significant contributions in advocacy for SC Technical Colleges and their students,
• exhibits care in creating a campus environment that promotes student learning and personal development
• be currently employed at a SC Technical College with at least two years of community or technical college experience.

The winner must be member of NASPA South Carolina. NASPA South Carolina membership is determined by an individual having a NASPA membership that is connected to South Carolina address. Nominees are encouraged to have an active NASPA membership by March 28,2025.

PAST AWARD WINNERS

2024- Gina Polizzi

2023- N/A

2022- Austin Floyd

The Outstanding College or University Senior Leadership Team recognizes the strength of the relationship and combined efforts of the College or University President, Senior Student Affairs Officer and Senior Academic Affairs Officer to positively influence the quality of student life on campus. The nominees should:

• be recognized by constituents, especially students, as collaborative, effective, and inspirational,
• each have a record of publications, speeches, and remarks that recognize the value and importance of student life to the overall mission higher education,

Additionally, the nominees' should have directed their efforts to significantly impact one of the following areas of the student experience:   

• Academic Advising, Career Services, Graduate Programs and Services, Professional Services
• Alumni, Community Relations, Family Programs, Fundraising
• Athletics, Recreation, Counseling, Health, Wellness
• Assessment, Persistence, Data Analytics
• Campus Security, Crisis Management, Student Conduct and Community Standards, Violence Prevention
• Civic Learning, Democratic Engagement, Service-Learning
• Commuter, Off-Campus, Military-Connected, Non-traditional
• Contracted/Auxiliary Services, Housing, Residence Life
• Enrollment management, financial aid, orientation, and first-year programs
• Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice
• Fraternity and Sorority Life, Leadership, Student Activities, Student Unions 

The leadership team must be from a NASPA institutional member. Nomination submissions must include nominee information (Senior Student Affairs Officer, Senior Academic Officer and President), summary statement detailing college or university leaders’ efforts to positively impact student life and advance the mission of student affairs related to a specific focus areas and biographies of College/University leaders (uploaded as additional documentation).

PAST AWARD WINNERS

2024- N/A

2023- Dr. Bennie Harris

2022- N/A

The NASPA South Carolina Program of Distinction Award highlights innovative initiatives that relate to the programs, policies, procedures, best practices, or services provide by South Carolina colleges and universities to impact students in one of the following areas:

• Academic Advising, Career Services, Graduate Programs and Services, Professional Services
• Alumni, Community Relations, Family Programs, Fundraising
• Athletics, Recreation, Counseling, Health, Wellness
• Assessment, Persistence, Data Analytics
• Campus Security, Crisis Management, Student Conduct and Community Standards, Violence Prevention
• Civic Learning, Democratic Engagement, Service-Learning
• Commuter, Off-Campus, Military-Connected, Non-traditional
• Contracted/Auxiliary Services, Housing, Residence Life
• Enrollment management, financial aid, orientation, and first-year programs
• Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice
• Fraternity and Sorority Life, Leadership, Student Activities, Student Unions 

Nominations for the Program of Distinction must include nominee information, summary statement detailing program’s impact on student success, relevance to student affairs mission, and application of research, theory, or assessment. The additional documentation category can be used to share assessment data, or other relevant information.  

At least one person associated with the nomination must be a NASPA South Carolina member. NASPA South Carolina membership is determined by an individual having a NASPA membership that is connected to South Carolina address. Nominee(s) are encouraged to have an active NASPA membership by March 28,2025.

PAST AWARD WINNERS

2024- Mitzi Winesett Fund for Student Emergencies, Columbia College

2023- On Your Time, University of South Carolina

2023- Soulful Sunday, University of South Carolina- Upstate

2022- N/A

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