Gain recognition for your contributions in one of three categories:

• Innovation Excellence Awards
• Visionary Award
• Professional Change-Maker Award

Eligibility: 

• These awards may be given to an individual or a group of individuals.
• The individual(s) receiving these awards must be the (primary or e-member) member(s) of NACE.
• The program, service, or notable contribution entered must have been made during the previous year.

Each winner (or winning group) will receive a plaque and publicity in NACE publications and on NACEWeb. Winners will be recognized at the NACE Conference & Expo.

NEW IN 2013—NACE Great Ideas Showcase 

After the vetting process has taken place, all finalists will be invited to present their submissions at the Great Ideas Showcase, Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at the NACE 2013 Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida.

Deadline for entries: January 31, 2013. 

Innovation Excellence Awards

NACE’s Innovation Excellence Awards recognize the hard work and professionalism of NACE members and share their ideas so that all members grow in the depth and scope of their work and careers. A NACE Innovation Excellence Award says “I’m good at what I do and I’m giving back to the profession so that others can do their jobs better.”

The NACE Innovation Excellence Awards acknowledge the best college or employer program or best practice in each of the following categories:

• Diversity – Recognizes exceptional diversity initiatives or programs that are targeted to engage diverse populations; best practice for outreach programs, develop a diverse candidate pool; or enhance retention level of diverse population. Entries are judged on and must include program need/objectives, clear and thorough description of program, level innovation, success of project in meeting objectives, measured outcomes, ease of replication.

• Research – Recognizes research developed by a member or member-based organization that impacts the career planning and/or recruitment field. Topics can include, but are not limited to, survey and analysis of graduating students, first destination, improvement of a career services or recruitment program, student outcomes, measuring operational effectiveness, return on investment, exit interviews, supply and demand. Entries are judged on and must include purpose and objectives, survey sample, survey design, innovation, methodology, relevancy, significant impact on profession.

• Marketing and Branding – Recognizes a marketing campaign for college career services or college recruitment effort. Entries are judged on and must include objectives, relevance to target market, integrated look, design and effective use of medium, creativity, innovation, measured outcomes, ease of replication.

• Technology – Recognizes web 2.0, social networking, or other technology programs designed to engage various audiences in the use of technology in the career services or recruitment of college graduates. Entries are judged on and must include program need/objectives, relevance to target market, design and effective use of use of medium, creativity, measured outcomes, ease of replication.

• Student Engagement – Recognizes the best information, program, or resource directed to students. Information must be offered to the students free of charge. Entries are judged on program and must include need/objectives, design, creativity, innovation, measured outcomes, ease of replication.

• Global Initiatives – Recognizes program or initiative that promotes information exchange, study abroad, employment or career development of new college graduates worldwide. Entries are judged on and must include program need/objectives, content, design, creativity, innovation, measured outcomes, ease of replication.

Submission Form and Guidelines:  

• Use this form to submit your entry.
• All entries and supporting materials must be submitted in an electronic format (Word, Excel, PDF). All support material should be sent to Cecelia Nader.
• Entries may be submitted in one category only.

Selection: A committee of professionals screens entries. There can be multiple college and employer awards in a year. (Note: Committee members will recuse themselves from the voting process in any category that an award entry is received from their respective organization.)

College and employer entries are judged separately. In addition, the college category will be split between organizations with fewer than 5,000 students and more than 5,000 students. The employer category will be split between those with fewer than 5,000 employees and more than 5,000 employees.

Visionary Award

One of the values of a professional association is in colleagues helping each other grow and develop.

Do you know someone who works tirelessly as a volunteer, contributing time and expertise over a number of years? Do you want to recognize someone who has established a significant program that has added value to the association?

Recognize the value of your colleague’s contributions through the NACE Visionary Award.

Criteria: Individuals must have contributed in one or more of the following ways:

• Developed significant program(s) to move the association forward.
• Held volunteer leadership role(s) in the association for a significant number of years.
• Contributed in an innovative way to the professional development of the field.
• Represented the association in an exemplary manner to other similar or related organizations/associations. 

Entries will be judged on:

• Innovation
• Results
• Contribution
• Success of project
• Measured impact
• Significance
• Long-term impact 

Submission Form and Process: 

• Any individual may nominate a colleague or support a nomination.
• NACE Board members are encouraged to recognize committee and task force members who made a significant contribution to the work of their group.
• Use this nomination form.

Professional Change-Maker Award

The Professional Change-Maker Award recognizes exceptional contribution above and beyond the professional standards in career planning and/or recruiting.

Judges are looking for innovative and impactful career development programs and creative recruiting ideas. If you have a program has had an impact on your organization and could give other organizations new strategies to try, share your program through the Professional Change-Maker Award.

Entries are judged on:

• Impact
• Innovation
• Creativity
• Originality
• Usefulness
• Credibility
• Ease of replication
• Scope

Submission Process: 

• Any NACE member, except a member of the selection committee for the award, may nominate or support a nomination.
• Use this form to nominate or support a nomination.