Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award

The award is open to any full-time or part-time UNCG staff or faculty member with a minimum of two years of service at UNCG at the time of nomination. This award recognizes staff and faculty who provide programmatic, service-delivery, or curricular initiatives in support of first year students.
(Academic advisors should be nominated for the Academic Advising Excellence Awards.)

Advising Excellence Award

All nominees must have a minimum of two years of service at the time of nomination with ongoing academic advising responsibilities at UNCG. Faculty award nominees must be teaching faculty in which academic advising accounts for less than 50% of their institutional responsibilities.

Nominations can be submitted by faculty or staff via the online nomination form. All nominations for the 2022-2023 awards are due by February 28, 2022. The Award selection committee will begin their review of all nominations in February, and award recipients are announced at the end of the Spring term.

Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award Criteria

• Nominee’s efforts and attributes that make them an advocate for first-year students
  • the persistence and ingenuity of the nominee
  • the nominee’s personal commitment to first-year students
  • the amount of time and energy exerted beyond the nominee’s ordinary job expectations
  • how the nominee has used theory and/or research on best practices to guide their efforts
• Impact of the nominee’s efforts on first-year students
  • providing resources and/or support to assist first-year students
  • successful transition of first year students to UNCG
  • feedback from students regarding the nominee’s efforts
  • the breadth and depth of the impact on first-year students
  • assessment efforts that show an actual impact on student outcomes, including academic and personal success
• Impact of the nominee’s efforts on the culture of the institutions, college, or unit
  • exhibiting a positive attitude that fosters a positive first-year experience
  • promoting a welcoming campus environment
  • any tangible or demonstrable evidences of impact on campus culture
  • any departmental partnerships/collaborations that have occurred as a result of the nominee’s efforts

Advising Excellence Award Criteria

• Proven ability to establish strong rapport and interpersonal relationships with advisees and advising colleagues
• Demonstrated ability to engage in, promote, and support development advising
• Exhibited commitment to guiding students in their academic and career paths
• Evidence of advising that supports and aligns with NACADA’s Core Values (Caring, Commitment, Empowerment, Inclusivity, Integrity, Professionalism, Respect)
• Mastery of institutional regulations, policies, procedures, and curricula
• Participation in and support of advisor development programs

Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award Winners

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Advising Excellence Award Winners

• 2022 Award Recipients
  • Caitlyn Saraphis – Professional Advisor, CAS
  • Robin Maxwell – Faculty Advisor, Dept. of Biology, CAS
• 2021 Award Recipients
  • Pam Ladrow – Faculty Advisor, Dept. of Biology, CAS
  • Sidney Stretz – Professional Advisor, CVPA
• 2020 Award Recipients
  • Christina Moreira – Faculty, Dept. of Biology, CAS
  • Jennifer Reich – Professional Advisor, CVPA
• 2019 Award Recipients
  • Sarah Dunning – Faculty, Dept. of Communication Studies, CAS
  • Brian Strickland – Professional Advisor, School of Education
• 2018 Award Recipients
  • Kathryn Aldridge – Faculty, Dept. of Human Development & Family Studies, HHS
  • Elena Medeiros – Professional Advisor, Students First Office