CIVSA Member Awards

Each year, CIVSA recognizes four outstanding members as recipients of our Member Awards: the Nick Kovalakides Outstanding Member Award, the Rising Star Award, the Individual Achievement Award, and the Betty Spengler CIVSA Service Award. Descriptions of these awards and a list of previous award winners is below.

To nominate a member, please submit a nomination form. Nominations will be valid for the current award cycle, plus one additional cycle. The deadline for consideration within a particular year is March 1. Awards will be announced at Annual Conference each year.

Nick Kovalakides Outstanding Member Award

The Nick Kovalakides Outstanding Member Award is named in honor of the dedication and service of Nick Kovalakides, the first national director of CIVSA’s predecessor group, the National Collegiate Visitor Service Association. The award is presented annually to an active member who has shown outstanding devotion, and support to the success of CIVSA and does not currently serve on the Executive Board. The recipient is selected by the Executive Board from those nominated by the membership and is presented each year at the Annual Conference closing dinner. The Nick Kovalakides Outstanding Member Award is the most prestigious award bestowed by the Association.

Rising Star Award

The Rising Star Award was presented for the first time in 2013, in honor of CIVSA’s 20th Annual Conference. The award is presented to a person who has been a CIVSA member for at least one year, but less than five years, and who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession of information and visitor services as well as our association.

Individual Achievement Award

The Individual Achievement Award recognizes a collegiate information and visitor services professional for significant achievement at their institution. It may be based on a single program, event, or a more long term development/process that represents a milestone in information or visitor services management. This award was presented for the first time in 2017.

Betty Spengler CIVSA Service Award

The Betty Spengler CIVSA Service Award recognizes a CIVSA member who has dedicated significant time in service and volunteerism to CIVSA. The member’s service should come in the form of profound support of the association. The CIVSA Service Award was presented for the first time in 2020. The award was renamed in 2024 upon the retirement of Betty Spengler, in recognition of more than 20 years of service to the association.

Previous Nick Award Recipients

2024 – Laura Stansell
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

2023 – La Dawn Duvall
University of California, Berkeley

2022 – Tim Lipman
Emeritus

2021 – Ebony Smith
The Ohio State University

2020 – Natalie Mann
University of Georgia

2019 – Karlene Kunigiel
Skidmore College

2018 – Lindsey Darling
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

2017 – Wes Sullivan
California Lutheran University

2016 – Jennifer McKenzie
Hendrix College

2015 – Megan Nassau
American University

2014 – LeAnn Stroupe
University of Missouri

2013 – Troy Selk
Emeritus

2012 – Janey Wheeler
Emeritus

2011 – Lea Hanson
Colorado State University

2010 – Donna Bostwick
Florida State University

2009 – Nancy Franco
Yale University

2008 – Kim Burdett
University of California, Irvine

2007 – Sherry Case
Colorado State University

2006 – Stephen Barnett
University of Kentucky

2005 – Denise Mercier
Florida State University

2004 – Betty Spengler
University of Maryland

2003 – Kate Steinbach
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

2002 – Barb Dallinger
Illinois State University

2001 – Ryan Leigh Runyon
University of South Carolina

2000 – David Watters
Community College of Philadelphia

1999 – Matthew Weismantel
Rutgers, The State of New Jersey

1998 – Steven Saffian
University of Wisconsin-Madison

1997 – Denise Wellman
University of South Carolina

1996 – Joel Seligman
Cornell University

1995 – Linda Hardwick
Baylor University

Previous Rising Star Award Recipients

2024 – Whitney Rollerson
University of Southern California

2023 – Ali Anderson
West Virginia University

2022 – Grace Johnson
University of Kentucky

2021 – Kelvin Lee
Stanford University

2020 – Nick Reffuge
University of Pittsburgh

2019 – Mel Baxter
New York University

2018 – Julee Mitsler
High Point University

2017 – Annalise Miyashiro
Vanderbilt University

2016 – Taylor Blair
University of Kentucky

2015 – Trent Sandles
Texas Wesleyan University

2014 – Nick Gonzales
University of Wisconsin-Madison

2013 – Rex Oliver
Texas Tech University

Previous Individual Achievement Award Recipients

2024 – La’Tasha Graham
Valencia College

2023 – Ashley Mitchell
University of Missouri

2022 – Chris Benavides
South Texas College

2021 –Heather McFarland
Anne Arundel Community College

2020 –Jayne Reimel
University of California, Santa Barbara

2019 – Gavin Waits
Illinois Institute of Technology

2018 – Barbara Loftus
Rutgers University

2017 – Olivia McGuckin
Randolph-Macon College

Previous Betty Spengler CIVSA Service Award Recipients

2024 – Paul Hovey
Fairfield University

2023 – BJ Heidlebaugh
Ohio University

2022 – Megan Adams
University of Louisville

2021 – Nicole Levy
Adelphi University

2020 – Eric Brodsky
Adelphi University

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