Council of Unions and Student Programs Awards Information

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Lori Rhett Professional Award

Excellence in Innovation Award

Outstanding Contribution Award

Lori Rhett Professional Award

The Lori Rhett Professional Award, established in November 1997 honors an individual who best exemplifies outstanding achievement in the field of student activities at a Washington State community college. The award was established in memory of the late Lori Rhett, a former Director of Student Programs at Bellevue Community College.

Nominations for a recipient of the award must be received by June 30th. You may nominate an individual for the award by printing, completing, and mailing this award nomination form.

Past Lori Rhett Professional Award Recipients

• 1998 - Shelley Bannish
• 1999 - Mari Kruger and Marjan Coester
• 2000 - Duncan Stevenson
• 2001 - Toni Hartsfield
• 2002 - Bob Vervaeke
• 2003 - Erin Blakeney
• 2004 - Dani Chang
• 2005 - Carole Keane
• 2006 - Kelly Robbins

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CUSP Excellence in Innovation Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding new contributions (i.e., programs, ideas, functions, services, strategies, leadership approaches, etc.) that have initiated positive organizational change on either a local or state level.

It will be used to celebrate specialized monumental innovations made by student programs professionals, provide an ongoing list of “best practices” to be shared during CUSP meetings, and encourage innovation in student programs offices statewide.

Criteria

• Successful implementation of a local or statewide program or service that captures the spirit of creativity and innovation.
• Innovative efforts impacts one or more participating CUSP institution(s).
• A formal nomination for this honor originating from a participating CUSP institution.
• Nomination shall outline the impact of the innovation of the participating institution.

Process

• A nomination for this award shall be made as a written request to CUSP.
• Nomination letters shall cite the innovation, the impact on the institution, and the evidence of positive organizational change that resulted from the innovation. Letter must also provide names and contact information for those individuals responsible for the innovation.
• Nomination materials will be submitted to the CUSP president for consideration of recommendation.
• If determined by the president to be worthy of recommendation for recognition, the nomination will be added to the next CUSP agenda. Materials will be made available for review by CUSP membership.
• At the next meeting, CUSP president will seek a motion that the innovation be recognized with the CUSP Excellence in Innovation Award. The council will then vote on recommendation and if the vote passes with a simple majority the award will be given.

Duties

• CUSP executive council may then request that awarded innovations be presented at future CUSP meetings as “showcased” initiatives.
• CUSP executive council will produce and deliver award.
• Award letter will be produced by CUSP secretary and delivered to those individuals responsible for the award and the appropriate vice president for Student Services and/or dean. Physical award will be delivered with letter, nomination materials, and award criteria listing to the appropriate college president for campus distribution to responsible parties.

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CUSP Outstanding Contribution Award

The purpose of this award is to acknowledge, at a state level, the personal contributions of a student programs staff member. It has been designed to acknowledge the diligent and conscientious work accomplished by student programs professionals at or near the end of one’s service to their organization.

Criteria

• Demonstrated extended valuable service to the work of student programs in the Washington State community and technical college system of no less than three years.
• A formal nomination for this honor originating from the nominee’s institution.

Process

• A nomination for this award shall be made as a written request to CUSP. Nominations will be accepted from the colleagues, students, or leaders of the nominating institution.
• Nomination letters shall cite length of service, accomplishments, and “value added” to the institution by the nominee.
• Nomination materials will be submitted to the CUSP president for consideration of recommendation.
• If determined by the president to be worthy of recommendation for recognition, the nomination will be added to the next CUSP agenda. Materials will be made available for review by CUSP membership.
• At the next meeting, CUSP president or appointee will recommend nominee to receive CUSP Outstanding Contribution Award to the council. Council members may use discussion period before the vote to comment on the nominee’s value to the field of student programs. The council will then vote on recommendation and if the vote passes with a simple majority the award will be conferred.
• If over ten years of service have been made, institution may request the replacement of the word “lifetime” for the word “outstanding.”

Duties

• CUSP executive council will produce and deliver award for recipient.
• Copy of the CUSP meeting minutes and, if deemed appropriate by the CUSP secretary, nomination materials will be sent to both the nominee and the nominee’s college president.

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