Individual Achievement Awards

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Executive Leadership AwardRising Star AwardDistinguished Service Award
View past winners
Executive Leadership Award

The 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. 

Eligibility 

CASE celebrates the leadership, innovation, and impact of professionals from different lived experiences. As in all its initiatives, CASE values inclusivity, and therefore, the Individual Achievement Awards actively seek the broadest possible set of nominations from institutions and individuals across the globe. 

To be considered for this award, nominees must meet the following requirements: 

  • Institutional CEO, system head, or trustee (current or retired) for a CASE member institution.
  • Institutionally Related Foundations or self-governed alumni association CEOs and trustees are not eligible for nomination.
  • Current members of the CASE Board of Trustees and Regional Councils are not eligible for nomination.
  • Self-nominations will not be accepted. 

Learn more about submitting a nomination.

 

Rising Star Award

The Rising Star Award was established in 2004 and recognizes a person with seven (7) years or less of advancement experience whose early accomplishments distinguish them as possible future leaders in the profession. The candidates should be individuals whose performance demonstrates innovation, professionalism and leadership qualities. CASE District VII encourages and supports the Rising Star winner by paying the District VII conference registration fee for the annual award recipient.

 The criteria for nomination are:

  • Seven years or less professional experience in any advancement area
  • A demonstrated and consistently high level of professional achievement
  • Strong leadership qualities
  • A strong commitment to the advancement profession
  • An affiliation with CASE and/or NAIS.

Learn more about submitting a nomination.

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. 

Eligibility 

CASE celebrates the leadership, innovation, and impact of professionals from different lived experiences. As in all its initiatives, CASE values inclusivity, and therefore, the Individual Achievement Awards actively seek the broadest possible set of nominations from institutions and individuals across the globe. 

To be considered for this award, nominees must meet the following qualifications: 

  • From a CASE member institution or Educational Partner or retired from a CASE member institution.
  • Made significant contributions to CASE through volunteer service.
  • Current members of the CASE Board of Trustees and Regional Councils are not eligible for nomination.
  • Self-nominations will not be accepted. 

Learn more about submitting a nomination.

Nomination Instructions

All nomination information and materials should be submitted online by someone at a CASE member institution or Educational Partner. Self-nominations will not be accepted.  

The nominator will be asked to submit:  

  • Responses to two prompts.
  • Nominee's LinkedIn profile or a document with similar information such as resume, CV, or biography,
  • At least one and not more than three supporting letter(s) (not from the nominator) endorsing the nomination. 
  • Please reference the name of the award and limit the letter to not more than two pages.
  • Letters can be addressed to the District Judging Committee  
  • Documents can be in PDF or Word format.
  • Please do not mail any materials directly to CASE. 
  • The nomination period opens on 8/25 and closes on 11/10 
Submit your nominations
Submit Here

Past Winners

Titles and institutions indicate position at time of award.

2024
Gloria Ko, University of California, Los Angeles

2023
Dr. Kevin Yaley

2022
Dr. Kim Wilcox, Chancellor, UC Riverside

2021
No recipient

2020
Leroy M. Morishita, President, California State University, East Bay

2019
George Blumenthal, Chancellor, University of California, Santa Cruz

2018
Len Jessup, president, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

2017
Randy Bertin, Head of School, Besant Hill School

2015
Alexander Gonzalez, President, California State University, Sacramento

2013
Robert J. Birgeneau, Chancellor, University of California, Berkeley

2011
Daniel Y. Habuki, President, Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo, CA

2009
James K. Scott - President, Punahou School, Honolulu, HI

2008
Laura Skandera Trombley - President, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA

2007
Janet L. Holmgren - President, Mills College, Oakland, CA

2006
Stephen Morgan – President, University of La Verne, La Verne, CA

2005
Milton A. Gordon – President, California State University, Fullerton

2004
Warren J. Baker – President, California State University Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo

2003
James L. Doti, President, Chapman University, Orange, CA

2003
Clinton P. Wilkins – Head of School, Sage Hill School, Newport Coast, CA &

2002
Marvalene Hughes - President, California State University, Stanislaus

2002
Donald R. Nickerson - Headmaster, St. Gregory College Prep School, Tucson

2001
James R. Appleton, President, University of Redlands

2000
Robert C. Maxson, President, California State University, Long Beach

1999
John D. Welty, President, California State University, Fresno

*Titles and institutions indicate position at time of award.

  • Michael Bergler, Concordia University Irvine
  • Terri Carlos, Director of Development, University Initiatives, California State University, San Bernardino
  • Carri P. Jenkins, Assistant to the President for University Communications, Brigham Young University
  • Ron Stephany, Vice President, University Relations, University of Redlands
  • Fred C. Albrecht, Executive Director of Alumni Relations, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Daniel G. Aldrich III, Assistant Chancellor, University Advancement, UC Santa Cruz
  • Merilyn Bonney, Director of Alumni Relations, University of Redlands
  • Alice B. Carpenter, Director of Major and Planned Gifts, Scripps College
  • Leo O. Case, Vice President for Planning and Development, Occidental College
  • Ray Colvig, Public Information Officer, UC Berkeley
  • Norman A. Darais, Director of Publications and Graphics, Brigham Young University
  • Barbara F. Davidson, Assistant Chancellor, UC Irvine
  • Donald V. Dotts, Alumni Director, Arizona State University
  • James Erickson, Vice President for Advancement, University of California, Merced
  • Paula Faust, Director of Development and Public Affairs, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation
  • Raymond A. Haeckel, Exec. Director, Government and Community Relations, University of Utah
  • Lee Harlan, Director of Alumni Relations, Pomona College
  • Ronald G. Hyde, Assistant Vice President for University Relations, Brigham Young University
  • Thomas F. Jordan, Former Vice President, College Relations, College of Notre Dame
  • Virginia Kelsch, Associate Vice Chancellor, University Relations, UC Davis
  • Michael J. Koll, Executive Director, California Alumni Association, UC Berkeley
  • Jack Kinney, Executive Director, UC Santa Barbara Alumni Association
  • McRay Magleby, Creative Director, Brigham Young University
  • Ed L. Masterson, Associate Vice President for University Advancement, CSU Chico
  • Richard E. Matheny, Vice Chancellor, University Relations, UC Davis
  • Howard Metzler, Associate Vice President for Development, Pomona College
  • Donald Pattison, Director of Public Affairs, Pomona College
  • Kent D. Rollins, President of the Arizona Alumni Association, University of Arizona
  • June B. Smith, Development Policy Officer, University of California Systemwide
  • William E. Stone, President, Stanford Alumni Association, Stanford University
  • Susan Clouse Dolbert, President, Arizona State University Alumni Association
  • Ron Simons Associate Vice President, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, CA
  • Deborah Mandabach, Public Relations Director, University of La Verne, CA
  • Pamela Hillman, Vice President for University Advancement, CSU Fullerton, CA
  • Peggy Mitchell, Director of Development and Alumni, Town School for Boys, San Francisco, C
  • Joanne Clark, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
  • James H. Moore, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, University of Arizona Foundation
  • Peter Smits, Vice President Emeritus, California State University, Fresno
  • Kyle Button, Associate Vice President for Development, California State University, San Marcos
  • Timothy O'Malley, Vice President for University Relations, University of San Diego
  • Nancy Treser-Osgood, Senior Director of Alumni Relations, Pitzer College

Titles and institutions indicate position at time of award.

  • Kelly McGrail, University of California, Riverside
  • Karena Sara, San Diego State University
  • Karina Perez Helgeson, San Diego State University
  • Stephanie Nguyen, University of California, Riverside
  • DuBron Rabb
  • Casilda Pagan, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement at San Diego State University
  • Margaret Stutt, Associate Director of Donor Stewardship University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business
  • Michael Smart, Media Relations Manager, Brigham Young University, Utah
  • Lisa A. Lapin, Assistant Vice Chancellor for University Communications, UC Davis, California
  • Michael Remedi, Director of Development, Arizona State University, Arizona
  • Marilyn Grinsdale, Protocol and Government Relations Officer, Citrus College, Glendora, CA
  • Andre Khachtourians, Annual Giving Manager, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
  • Adam Jarman, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
  • Andrew DiNuzzo, Major Gifts Officer, University of California, Irvine
  • Brandon Buzbee, Senior Director of Outreach and Engagement, University of California, San Diego
  • Pam Pacelli, Director of Major Gifts, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis
  • Jon McBride, Media Relations and Social Media Manager, Brigham Young University
  • Megann Padovani, Lead Applications Developer, University of California, Davis