Annual Conference Awards

Graduate Student of the Year

Guidelines:

The Graduate Student of the Year Award recognizes the contributions of a graduate student in housing or residence life. The recipient must currently be, or have been during the previous academic year, enrolled as part-time/full-time graduate student in NC and employed by a Housing/Residence Life Department. They have made outstanding contributions to their campus position and/or academic program, which are considered to be above the expectations of a graduate student.

Nominee Criteria:

• Currently be, or have been during the previous academic year, enrolled as a part‐time graduate student at an institution in North Carolina and employed by a Housing/Residence Life Department.
• Have made an outstanding contribution to their campus position and/or academic program that are considered to be above the expectations of a graduate student.

Nomination Materials:

• A completed Award Nomination Form.
• Nomination Letter:
  • In 500 words or less, the nomination letter should include the following information: 
    • Description about the nominee’s to reflect their graduate student status at an institution in North Carolina who is employed by a Housing/Residence Life Department.
    • How they have made an outstanding contribution to their campus position and/or academic program that are considered to be above the expectations of a graduate student.
    • Description of the student’s achievements and future aspirations

Outstanding New Professional

Guidelines:

The Outstanding New Professional Award recognizes a colleague in the first three years of professional level employment in Housing and Residence Life who displays exemplary service to the field and their own institution.

Nominee Criteria:

• Be currently employed by a post‐secondary institution in North Carolina.
• Be in the first three years of professional level employment. 
• Have demonstrated outstanding performance in their position.
• Have made an outstanding contribution to their department and campus.
• Have demonstrated potential for a successful and effective career in Housing and Residence Life.

Nomination Materials:

• A completed Award Nomination Form.
• Nomination Letter:
  • In 500 words or less, the nomination letter should include the following information:
    • Description about the nominee’s time in the field to reflect the nominee being in the profession between one to three years  in Housing and Residence Life.
    • How they have demonstrated outstanding performance in their position.
    • How they have made an outstanding contribution to their department and campus.
    • How they have demonstrated potential for successful and effective careers in Housing and Residence Life.

Outstanding Mid-level Professional

Guidelines:

The Outstanding Mid-Level Professional award recognizes a colleague that is within 4 to 7 years professional level employment in Housing and Residence Life.  The recipient must display a commitment to exemplary service to the field and their own institution; this includes involvement within the profession, development of junior staff members, and exceptional commitment and work to further the mission of Housing and Residence Life.

Nominee Criteria:

• Be currently employed by post-secondary institution of North Carolina.
• Be in their fourth to seventh year in the field.

Nomination Materials:

• A completed Award Nomination Form.
• Nomination Letter:
  • In 500 words or less, the nomination letter should include the following information:
    • Description about the nominee’s time in the field to reflect the nominee being in the profession between four to seven years in Housing and Residence Life.
    • How they approach their work efforts
    • How they have shown commitment to exemplary service to the field and their own institution
    • How they have helped with the development of junior staff members
    • How they have shown an exceptional commitment and work towards furthering the mission of Housing and Residence Life.

Al Calarco Commitment to Excellence Award

Guidelines:

The Al Calarco Commitment to Excellence Award recognizes the contributions of seasoned professionals with a minimum of 8 years of experience in the field. They have demonstrated outstanding performance, made a significant contribution to their campus and profession and have demonstrated a commitment to developing junior staff members.

Nominee Criteria:

• Be currently employed by a post-secondary institution in North Carolina. Nominee must be with their current institution at least two years.
• Be in the profession a minimum of eight years.
• Have demonstrated outstanding performance and commitment to excellence.
• Have made an outstanding contribution to their campus and profession.
• Have demonstrated a commitment of developing junior staff members.

Nomination Materials:

• A completed Award Nomination Form.
• Nomination Letter:
  • In 500 words or less, the nomination letter should include the following information:
    • Description about the nominee’s time in the field to reflect being in the profession for a minimum of eight years and at least two years at their current institution. 
    • How they have demonstrated outstanding performance and commitment to excellence.
    • How they have made an outstanding contribution to their campus and profession.
    • How they demonstrated a commitment of developing junior staff members.

Bob Dunnigan Lifetime Service and Achievement Award

Guidelines:

This award is recognition for quality, long-term contributions and outstanding efforts of deserving professionals. It is acknowledgement of competent administrative skills, merited status among colleagues, and support of the recipient’s campus community of students, faculty and staff. It is a tribute to the commitment to advancing the profession through leadership, research, and/or teaching, and the effectiveness of the recipient in developing junior staff members. The Bob Dunnigan Lifetime Service and Achievement Award reflects quality leadership in both university and community affairs.

Nominee Criteria:

• Be currently employed by a post-secondary institution in North Carolina. Nominee must be with their current institution at least two years.
• Be in the profession a minimum of ten years.

Nomination Materials:

• A completed Award Nomination Form.
• Nomination Letter:
  • In 500 words or less, the nomination letter should include the following information:
    • Description about the nominee’s time in the field to reflect long‐term contributions and outstanding efforts.
    • Acknowledgement of competent administrative skills, merited status among colleagues, and support of the recipient’s campus community of students, faculty and staff.
    • How they have shown a commitment to advancing the profession through leadership, research, and/or teaching, and the effectiveness of the recipient in developing junior staff members.
    • How they have shown quality leadership in both university and community affairs.

Alexis (Lexie) Kamerman Dedication to Social Justice and Peace Award

Guidelines:

The Lexie Kamerman Dedication to Social Justice and Peace Award recognizes the contributions of professionals or programs in Housing or Residence Life that reach out to the institution/community/state/world to promote social justice and peace. They have demonstrated a significant contribution in their institution/community/state/world to increase inclusion and social justice working to further the cause of humanity.

Nominee Criteria:

• Be currently employed by a post-secondary institution in North Carolina.
•  Have demonstrated a commitment to educating others on social justice and peace issues.
•  Have enhanced the community’s knowledge of social justice and inclusion issues.
•  Have demonstrated a  commitment to finding solutions to inclusion and social justice issues.
•  Have collaborated with other departments, groups and/or organizations (include current students at the  institution in the planning and implementation of the program(s)).

Nomination Materials:

• A completed Award Nomination Form.
• Nomination Letter:
  • In 500 words or less, the nomination letter should include the following information:
    • How they have demonstrated a commitment to educating others on social justice and peace issues.
    • How they have enhanced the community’s knowledge of social justice and inclusion issues.
    • How they have demonstrated a  commitment to finding solutions to inclusion and social justice issues.
    • How they have collaborated with other departments, groups and/or organizations
    • How they have contributed/connected to  their campus as well as the community/state/world.

Scott Braswell Housing Function Award

Guidelines:

The Scott Braswell Housing Function Award was established to recognize outstanding teams or individuals who work in functional areas within Housing or Residence Life programs at North Carolina institutions.  To be eligible for this award the team or individual must be employed in a housing / residence life department and work in one of the following functional areas:

Assignments, Technology, Dining, Maintenance/Facilities/Housekeeping, Marketing, Operations, Finance

Nomination Criteria:

• Be currently employed in housing or residence life program in North Carolina
• Have made an outstanding contribution to their department
• Enhanced the living environment by providing excellent services to students and the housing or residence life department that they serve

Nomination Materials:

• A completed Award Nomination Form.
• Nomination Letter:
  • In 500 words or less, the nomination letter should include the following information:
    • Description about the nominee’s work in one of the following functional areas: Assignments, Technology, Dining, Maintenance, Facilities, Housekeeping, Marketing, Operations, Finance
    • How they approach their work
    • How they have made an outstanding contribution to their department
    • How they enhanced the living environment by providing excellent services to students and the housing or residence life department that they serve

Susan Grant Award for Outstanding Mentorship

Mentorship is critical to the development and sustainability of future HRL practitioners. To recognize the contributions and importance of outstanding mentors, NCHO has established the The Susan Grant Award for Outstanding Mentorship. An extraordinary mentor and leader for more than 30 years in the state of North Carolina, Susan Grant played a pivotal role in nurturing the next generation of housing professionals. Her mentorship and guidance has empowered countless entry-level staff, colleagues, and peers to reach their full potential, and her unwavering support and commitment to professional development has created a legacy of leaders who continue to shape the field of student housing today.

Effective mentoring involves getting to know a mentee’s personal strengths and future goals, then providing tailored advice and encouragement. This award is presented to individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication and commitment to offering guidance and support to students or staff members within the realm of housing and residence life. Recipients of this award go above and beyond in their mentorship and support efforts, setting a high standard for excellence in their role as housing staff members. Through their actions, they inspire and positively impact the personal and professional development of those they mentor, fostering a supportive and nurturing environment within the housing and residence life community. This award serves as a way to honor their remarkable contributions and their role in enhancing the educational and personal experiences of those they mentor.

Guidelines:

• Be currently employed by a post‐secondary institution in North Carolina.
• NCHO will consider a number of characteristics that define outstanding mentorship to guide the selection of the award recipient. These include:
  • actively cultivating in mentees the pursuit of professional excellence, whether in housing operations, residential living and learning, student leadership, faculty engagement, or another housing related functional area;
  • investing in their mentee’s professional development and career progress, providing guidance and constructive feedback while encouraging the mentee to gain confidence in their own skills and intellectual independence, regardless of their ultimate career interest;
  • challenging mentees to achieve their full potential, which includes the completion of trainings, presentations, projects and meaningful contributions to the housing and residence life community

Nomination Materials:

• A completed Award Nomination Form.
• Nomination Letter:
  • In 1,000 words or less, the nomination letter should include the following information:
    • The nominators first-hand knowledge of the individual’s influence as a mentor
      • Current or former trainees can nominate faculty members who served as their mentors, and nominees will then be invited to submit additional supporting information
    • Description of their work ethic and professional ethics
    • How they have actively cultivated in mentees the pursuit of professional excellence
    • How they have invested in their mentee’s professional development and career progres
    • How they have challenged mentees to achieve their full potential
    • Speak to the exceptional performance of the nominee on his/her campus as well as the nominee’s role of developing junior staff members

R. Randy Rice Service Award

Guidelines:

R. Randy Rice Service Awards are given to those deserving staff at individual institutions that have gone beyond the call of duty and/or service to support the mission, goals, and/or activities of the Residence Life and/or Housing program. Any member of the campus community; housekeeping staff, maintenance staff,  food service staff, secretarial staff, and faculty members are eligible for this award.

Institutions can submit an unlimited number of submissions for this award. We strongly recommend schools submit at least one nomination for this award. Everyone who receives a nomination for the service award will be recognized.

Nomination Materials:

• A completed Award Nomination Form.
• Nomination Statement:
  • In 100 words or less
    • Explain this person’s service to your Housing and Residence Life program
    • Why it is important to recognize this individual

NCHO Service Pins

Service pins will be awarded annually to members of the Executive Council and subcommittee chairs who have not already received a service pin. No more than five other pins may be awarded to individuals for outstanding service to NCHO, SEAHO or ACUHO‐I or for “special recognition” outside of the above criteria.

Nomination Materials:

• A completed Award Nomination Form.
• Nomination Statement:
  • In 100 words or less
    • Explain this person’s service to North Carolina Housing Officers (NCHO)
    • Why it is important to recognize this individual