Edwin Crawford Award for Innovation

The Edwin Crawford Award recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement, quality and effectiveness of state relations on behalf of a higher education institution or system. Recipients are relatively new to the profession and have shown great effort, initiative and innovation in achieving the legislative goals of their institution or system.

The award is named in honor of the late Edwin Crawford, who exemplified excellence in state relations and public affairs during more than 40 years in state government relations at Auburn University, the University of Virginia, the Ohio State University and the University of California System.

The award recipient receives a crystal award at the annual Higher Education Government Relations Conference.

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Nomination and Selection Process

Nomination deadline: The deadline for the 2011 awards has passed.

Criteria

Judges look for an extraordinary individual who has demonstrated initiative and innovation in a state government relations office. Nominees must have:

• Worked for a maximum of 10 years as a government relations officer representing a higher education institution or system,
• Demonstrated an approach to state government relations that is recognized by peers and policymakers as exceptionally innovative and creative, regardless of the end result,
• Effectively mobilized others to help meet the institution's legislative goals, for example, creating coalitions between other colleges and universities, higher education associations or other groups sharing similar goals,
• Used all resources of the campus to achieve legislative goals and
• A record of demonstrated and recognized success.

Nomination instructions

Include in the nomination package:

• A complete entry form (PDF),
• A curriculum vitae that provides a concise summary of the individual's education, government relations experience, relevant awards, publications and other significant contributions (information may be summarized using a biographical format but should focus on state government relations experience) and
• A nomination letter detailing how the nominee meets the award criteria. (Self-nominations and nominations by students will not be accepted.)

Use a standard type size (10–12 point) for all entry materials. Submit one package of materials per nominee. Faxed nominations will not be accepted.

Mail or email your nomination to:
Brian Flahaven
Director of Government Relations
1307 New York Ave., NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: +1-202-478-5617
E-mail: flahaven@case.org

Selection Process

Nominations are reviewed by an awards selection committee chaired by the vice chair of the Task Force on Higher Education Government Relations. The task force is a collaborative effort of AACC, AASCU, APLU, and CASE.

The awards committee reviews all nominations and selects semi-finalists for a second round of judging. Nominators will be contacted for additional materials for semi-finalists, including supporting letters from colleagues, policymakers or other persons familiar with the qualifications of the candidate, and for a personal statement written by the nominee.

Recipients are selected in September, with the awards presented at the annual Higher Education Government Relations Conference. Winners are expected to attend and produce a five-minute biographical DVD for presentation at the conference.

Past Winners

2011
Ryan McPherson
University of Buffalo, State University of New York

2010
Erin Cowser
Southeastern Louisiana University

2009
Justin Lonon
Dallas County Community College District

2008
Claire Rosacco
Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio

2007
Donald Payton
Seminole Community College

2006
Joseph Bryce
University System of Maryland

2005
Angela Leidinger
Clemson University

2004
Leslie Smith
City College of San Francisco

2003
Matthew Hargrove
University of California, Davis

2002
Bryan Boehringer
Oregon Health & Science University

2001
Owen Holmes
California State University, Fullerton

For more information, contact Brian Flahaven, director of legislative, foundation and recognition programs, at flahaven@case.org or +1-202-478-5617.