Awards and Scholarships
Institutional Awards
More Ways to Win—and a Simplified Nomination Process
We’ve combined the best of the District IV Awards with the Circle of Excellence Awards to create a single, streamlined program that offers even more opportunities for recognition. When you enter the Circle of Excellence Awards, your submissions are also automatically considered for Best of District IV honors—at no additional cost.
Award categories and judging criteria are regularly updated to reflect the latest best practices in advancement, and several categories are now tailored by staff size to ensure fair and meaningful recognition for institutions of all sizes.
Individual Achievement Awards
CASE District IV members work hard throughout the year promoting the areas of alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas. District IV bestows a number of special awards each year at the district’s annual meeting for individuals and institutions who continually raise the bar in their efforts to promote education.
Dr. E. Joseph Savoie Chief Executive Leadership Award
The Chief Executive Leadership Award celebrates CASE member institutional chief executive officers, college and university system heads, and trustees for outstanding efforts in promoting the value of education and supporting advancement at their campuses. Recipients, through their ability to create a vision and inspire others, have established a positive image for their institution while leading it to even higher levels of success.
Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award recognizes the accomplishments of new advancement professionals (2-5 years) whose early success promises future leadership and achievement.
Distinguished Achievement Award
The CASE Distinguished Service Award celebrates inspirational advancement professionals whose accomplishments and longtime service to CASE have made a significant impact on institutional advancement. The award acknowledges individuals whose embodiment of the spirit of CASE, particularly generosity in sharing knowledge with the community of practice, have earned the respect and admiration of fellow colleagues.
Milestone Service Awards
Milestone Service Awards recognize District IV professionals who have enhanced educational services and opportunities through their commitment of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, or 45 years to the field of institutional advancement.
Hall of Fame Award
The Hall of Fame award recognizes retired professionals who have provided outstanding service to their institutions, to CASE District IV, to the advancement profession, and to higher education.
John T. Shamblin Jr. Top Hand Award
A special award made as appropriate by the District to individuals who are not in the educational advancement profession, but who have given extraordinary service to the profession and to District IV
Scholarships
Congratulations to the 2025 Best of District III Award Winners!Winners Gallery
Institutional AwardsIndividual Achievement AwardsScholarships
Institutional Awards
Congratulations to the 2024 Best of District I Award Winners!Winners Gallery
Institutional AwardsIndividual Achievement AwardsScholarships
Institutional Awards
More Ways to Win—and a Simplified Nomination Process
We’ve combined the best of the District III Awards with the Circle of Excellence Awards to create a single, streamlined program that offers even more opportunities for recognition. When you enter the Circle of Excellence Awards, your submissions are also automatically considered for Best of District III honors—at no additional cost.
Award categories and judging criteria are regularly updated to reflect the latest best practices in advancement, and several categories are now tailored by staff size to ensure fair and meaningful recognition for institutions of all sizes.
Recent District III institutional award recipients >
Best of District III Awards Seal
Download Best of District III Awards seal and share the news about your institutions recognition as a Best of District winner.
Download and display your award seals, available as PNG or vector PDF files.
The 2026 District Individual Achievement Awards are open for nominations!Submit Here
Individual Achievement Awards
The District III Individual Achievement Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate outstanding individuals who are doing the most to advance education.
Bill Franklin Volunteer of the Year Award
The Bill Franklin Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes a staff member of a CASE District III member institution who has made outstanding volunteer contributions to the work of CASE DIII. This award honors individuals whose service has advanced the district’s programs, strengthened engagement among members, and furthered the mission of CASE within District III.
Chief Executive Leadership Award
The Chief Executive Leadership Award celebrates CASE member institutional chief executive officers, college and university system heads, and trustees for outstanding efforts in promoting the value of education and supporting advancement at their campuses. Recipients, through their ability to create a vision and inspire others, have established a positive image for their institution while leading it to even higher levels of success.
Distinguished Service Award
The CASE Distinguished Service Award celebrates inspirational advancement professionals whose accomplishments and longtime service to CASE have made a significant impact on institutional advancement. The award acknowledges individuals whose embodiment of the spirit of CASE, particularly generosity in sharing knowledge with the community of practice, have earned the respect and admiration of fellow colleagues.
Rising Star Award
This award recognizes a professional with three to ten years of advancement experience whose accomplishments set them apart among their peers. It honors early-career professionals whose success reflects enthusiasm and commitment to the advancement profession, along with achievement, innovation, professionalism, and leadership qualities.
Professional of the Year Award
This award recognizes a District III institutional advancement professional with ten or more years of experience who has demonstrated exceptional achievement in the development of an institutional advancement program or the innovative execution of programs within an area of advancement.
Opportunity and Inclusion Award
The Opportunity and Inclusion Award recognizes an advancement professional who displays leadership in fostering inclusion and diversity within the profession, on their campus, and/or within the surrounding community.
Scholarships
CASE will offer scholarships for qualified members to attend the CASE District IV Annual Conference 2026, April 19 - 21, in Dallas, TX.
The scholarship covers the conference registration fee.
All CASE members are welcome to apply. Preference for scholarships will be given to people who meet any of these criteria:
- Never attended a CASE conference.
- New to educational advancement.
- New to a leadership role.
- Student who is planning a career in educational advancement.