NACA South

The C. Shaw Smith Founder's Award is the highest honor presented by the NACA South Region. It is given to a student, staff member or an associate member at a NACA South member school or national associate member firm who has consistently given of their time and talents and contributed significantly at the regional and the national levels of NACA. The award is not necessarily given in each category each year.

Criteria & Qualifications for Candidates:

• Must be significantly involved in the area of campus activities for at least two years
• Has given his/her time and talents and contributed significantly to the regional and national levels of NACA
• Has created opportunities for students to be active in the area of campus activities
• Has made a significant impact on campus activities
• Is viewed by colleagues as one of the outstanding professionals, associates or students in the field of campus activities.

Nomination Materials: 

• Please provide a narrative and any supporting evidence of the criteria above. Additional supporting materials (i.e. publicity, newspaper reviews, recognition, etc.) may also be included with the nomination.
• A minimum two letter(s) of support are required. 
  • One from the individual’s direct supervisor
  • One from the individual’s direct advisees or an institution they have worked with

The Shuronda H. Smith Outstanding New Professional Award is presented annually to a professional staff member who has been in the field of campus activities for one to three years and at an NACA member school in the South Region for at least one year. The nominee must show evidence of outstanding service at his/her institution and active involvement at the regional or national level of NACA.

Criteria & Qualifications for Candidates:

• Has actively participated in NACA activities (including but not limited to any of the following: regional conferences, national convention, institute participation, volunteering, educational session presenting)
• Has made a significant contribution to campus life as a new student activities professional
• Has demonstrated the potential and commitment for excellence in service to student leaders
• Is viewed by colleagues as an educator
• Displays genuine support and regard for students.

Nomination Materials: 

• Please provide a narrative and any supporting evidence of the criteria above. 
• A minimum of two Letter(s) of support are required. At least one letter must be from the individual’s direct supervisor.
• Additional supporting materials (i.e. publicity, newspaper reviews, recognition, etc.) may also be included with the nomination. 
   

The Outstanding Campus Activities Professional Award is presented annually to an NACA South professional staff member who best exemplifies outstanding achievement in the field of campus activities advisement.

Criteria & Qualification for Candidates:

• Must have four years or more experience in the field of student activities
• Has actively participated in NACA activities (including but not limited to any of the following: regional conferences, national convention, institute participation, volunteering, educational session presenting)
• Has provided outstanding developmental opportunities for students in the area of campus activities
• Has made an extraordinary impact on students’ lives and has earned their respect
• Is currently employed in student activities advisement at an NACA member institution, and has been at this institution for at least nine months.

Nominations Materials: 

• Please provide a narrative and any supporting evidence of the criteria above. 
• A minimum of two Letter(s) of support are required. At least one letter must be from the individual’s direct supervisor.
• Additional supporting materials (i.e. publicity, newspaper reviews, recognition, etc.) may also be included with the nomination.

The Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award will honor a graduate student currently pursuing an advanced degree who demonstrates commitment to both his/her current position and their graduate education. The award will recognize a graduate student currently advising in the field of campus activities at a NACA South Region member institution. The nominators must demonstrate the impact the graduate student has made on their campus, balancing the responsibilities related to their graduate assistantship, institution and programming board(s) they advise or work with.

Criteria:

• Currently holds a graduate assistant position at an NACA member 
• Provides outstanding service to their institution
• Shows promise as a future contributor to their related field of study
• Has been creative and innovative in their efforts at their institution
• Explain any challenges that the graduate assistant has done to programs to make it better or how the graduate assistant has motivated the students to look outside the box of programming.
• Involvement of helping the students in the planning and implementation of the series/programs. 

Nomination Materials: 

• Please provide a narrative and any supporting evidence of the criteria above.  Additional supporting materials (i.e. publicity, newspaper reviews, recognition, student’s testimonials, etc.) may also be included with the nomination.
• A minimum of two Letter(s) of support are required, one from the students the individual advises and one from the individual’s direct supervisor.   
   

The Outstanding Undergraduate Student Leader Award is presented to an undergraduate student leader at an NACA member school in the South Region who has demonstrated dedication and commitment to campus activities and who had been active in NACA activities. The student should be an active member of the institution’s programming board.

Criteria & Qualifications for Candidates:

• Has displayed outstanding dedication to student activities, student organizations, student leadership and engagement
• Has created or helped evolve traditions to enhance the institution’s social and educational experience 
• Has challenged/motivated the programming board to be innovative and meet the needs of the campus community
• Has consistently helped promote the organization, benefits of getting involved to the campus community
• Has actively participated in NACA activities (including but not limited to any of the following: regional conferences, national convention, institute participation, volunteering, educational session presenting)
• Has participated for at least one year in the area of student activities, student organizations, student leadership and engagement prior to nomination

Nomination Materials: 

• A minimum of two Letter(s) of support are required. One should be provided by the direct advisor of the student. 
• Additional supporting materials (i.e. publicity, newspaper reviews, recognition, student’s testimonials, etc.) may also be included with the nomination.

NACA South recognizes the commitment of associate members and the role that associate members play in the development of student leaders. The NACA South Outstanding Associate Member Award is a way to recognize the leadership and dedication of an associate member agency or individual that meets the following criteria:

Criteria & Qualifications for Candidates:

• Must be a current NACA associate member or an employee of an NACA associate member company or firm
• Demonstration of exemplary leadership and participation in NACA South region
• Must attend the regional conference at which the award is being presented
• Commitment to programming and student development
• Customer service
• Ease of accessibility
• Quality of entertainment
• Overall commitment to college student activities

Nomination Materials: 

• Please provide a narrative and any supporting evidence of the criteria above. Additional supporting materials (i.e. publicity, newspaper reviews, recognition, etc.) may also be included with the nomination.
• A minimum of one letter of support is required.  

This award recognizes the best activities boards in the NACA South Region. There are two award categories based on your school's programming budget: below $500,000 and above $500,000. Any NACA South Region member school can submit a Board of Excellence Award application. The process for this award will be split into two stages. The first stage will consist of a written application and supporting materials. These applications will be reviewed, and the nominees will be narrowed to no more than four finalists in each school budget size category. The finalists will then be asked to prepare a 30-minute oral presentation to be presented virtually before a panel of judges. 

Review of Written Application:
All submissions must include materials, which respond to the questions listed later in this description, in order to be considered. Each submission is evaluated with the same scoring criteria.

Supporting Materials:
Each school is encouraged to submit promotional materials, event/organizational pictures, testimonials from students that attended, evaluation information and other information as needed and relevant to the submission questions. Your materials should relate specifically to the written documentation. Overall presentation of the materials will also be considered as a part of the evaluation criteria. Each submission and its supporting materials must be submitted electronically.

This award recognizes the most outstanding program of the year within the NACA South region. This program should be a college or university’s signature program and should have attracted a large amount of attention and student involvement. Special consideration will be given to a program that demonstrates collaboration and innovation. There are two award categories based on your school's programming annual budget: below $500,000 and above $500,000. Programs must have been presented during the previous academic year.

Programs must have been presented during the previous academic year. This award is presented to a program from a member institution that spotlights school spirit, showcases a signature program, and highlights best practices in programming. The program must have taken place for at least 3 academic years to be considered a tradition.

Programs must have been presented during the previous academic year. Three awards will be given in each area based on the institution's programming budget (please see awards application for breakdown).

Criteria:

• Effective use of available resources (financial, human, logistical)
• Evidence of an effort to encourage, promote and market participation in the series/program to the student population (i.e. posters, newspaper ads, etc.)
• Involvement of students in the planning and implementation of the series/program
• Clarity and achievement of stated purpose and goals of the series/program
• Effective evaluation of the series/program

Nomination Materials: Please provide a narrative and any supporting evidence of the criteria above. Two Letter(s) of support are required, provide by a student participant and/or advisor of each award submission. Additional supporting materials (i.e. publicity, newspaper reviews, recognition, student testimonials, etc.) may also be included with the nomination.

This award is presented to a program from a member institution for which there was a diversity, social justice, or multicultural theme. The program should have contributed to the understanding of diverse populations and/or social justice within the entire campus community.

This award is presented to a program from a member institution that took place late night (after 8:00 pm) on a Friday or Saturday. This may be a series or individual program, but the duty of the program should have been as an alternative to drinking on campus.

These awards include outstanding utilization of social media to promote a series/program. Programs must have been presented during the previous academic year.

Criteria:

• Innovative use of Social Media resources and platforms
• Evidence of an effort to encourage, promote and market participation in the series/program to the student population 
• Increased involvement of larger campus in the series/program due to Social Media implementation
• Clarity and achievement of stated purpose and goals of the series/program
• Effective evaluation of the series/program

Nomination Materials: 

• Please provide a narrative and any supporting evidence of the criteria above. 
• A minimum of two Letter(s) of support are required. At least one letter must be from the group’s advisor.
• Additional supporting materials (i.e. publicity, newspaper reviews, recognition, etc.) may also be included with the nomination.