Recognizing & Celebrating Our Work

In Campus Activities, we’re pretty good at celebrating other people. We recognize our student leaders, applaud successful programs, and create unforgettable experiences for our campus communities. But somewhere between the late-night events, planning meetings, and everything else on our plates, we sometimes forget that the people making those experiences possible deserve a little recognition, too. 

As a three-time NACA Achievement Award recipient, having received the Patsy Morley Outstanding Programmer Award, Outstanding Diversity Achievement Award – Individual, and NACA Legacy Award, I know firsthand how meaningful that recognition can be.

For me, those awards represent more than individual accomplishments or something to add to my résumé. They represent years of hard work, relationships built, lessons learned, and the countless people who have been part of my professional journey. But here’s something I never want to overlook: Each of those moments of recognition started because someone believed my work was worth celebrating and took the time to nominate me.

And that’s why I want to encourage you to do the same.

Think about that colleague who consistently goes above and beyond. The advisor who has made a difference in the lives of student leaders. The creative program that brought your campus together. Or the mentor who helped shape the professional you’ve become. The NACA Achievement Awards are about more than recognizing individuals and programs. They’re about celebrating the innovation, leadership, commitment, and impact that make our profession special.

And while you’re thinking about those deserving colleagues, don’t forget about yourself! Sometimes we’re so busy doing the work that we convince ourselves we’re “just doing our jobs.” But what feels ordinary to you may be making an extraordinary difference to someone else.

With nominations open through November 6, I challenge you to take that next step. Nominate a colleague. Celebrate an outstanding program. And where eligible, don’t be afraid to put your own name forward.

Someone once saw something in me worth recognizing, and I’m grateful they did. Now, I hope you’ll help create that same opportunity for someone else.

Your work matters. Your impact matters. And your accomplishments deserve to be celebrated.

So, what are you waiting for? Let NACA recognize you and the incredible work happening across our campuses!