Awards

At the 1977 ACPA Convention in Denver, Colorado, The Commission for Housing and Residential Life decided to become active in recognizing outstanding achievements in residence life work. In a field where praise is often minimal, this activity has met an important need. Since that time, the Commission has presented awards to recognize excellence and outstanding contributions in the field of student housing and residence life. These include:

OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENT STAFF MEMBER
This award is presented to an outstanding full-time graduate student employed in a paraprofessional staff position. 

OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT STAFF MEMBER
This award is presented to an outstanding undergraduate student employed in a paraprofessional staff position. 

OUTSTANDING NEW PROFESSIONAL IN RESIDENCE LIFE
This award is given to an individual in the first three years of professional employment who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to her/his campus and/or the housing profession. 

OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL AWARD
Two categories – 4-9 years or 10 or more years

This award is given to an individual with 4 or more years of professional employment who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to her/his campus and/or the housing profession.

EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE AWARD
In the tradition of National Residence Hall Honorary’s (NRHH) Spotlight Award, this award is given to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to her/his campus and/or the housing profession and is not eligible for any of the other awards; therefore, the nominee cannot be a student or professional staff member.  Possible nominees could be food service personnel, night security staff, administrative assistants, or custodial staff. 

EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY
This award is presented to an individual, department, or institution that has demonstrated outstanding contributions toward sustainability on her/his campus and/or to the housing profession.

OUTSTANDING INNOVATION IN HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL LIFE
This award recognizes and honors excellence for an innovative program, project, collaboration with student affairs or academic departments, or service sponsored by a housing or residence life department.  The nominated program or initiative should demonstrate improvement in the quality of life for students, the efficiency in the department and/or the effectiveness in service delivery.

ACPA Awards Timeline:

• January 20 - February 6: Request for Award Reviewers
• January 20 - February 20: Request for Award Nominations
• February 24: Send information to Award Reviewers
• March 5: Deadline to Receive Feedback from Award Reviewers

To submit a nomination, please write a letter detailing the individual's or program's qualifications for a given award and send the nomination to the commission awards coordinator, Sean Gehrke, at gehrkesj@whitman.edu by February 20, 2009.  Including a copy of the nominee's resume for the individual awards will also be very helpful in the awards selection process.  Up to three letters will be accepted for an individual or specific program's nomination in a given category.  Nominees and recipients of the Commission for Housing and Residential Life awards will be honored at the commission's award ceremony and social during the ACPA Annual Convention.