Individual Achievement Awards

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

The Executive Leadership Award (formerly the Chief Executive Award) was established by District VII in 1999 to honor institutional leaders for their outstanding contributions to their campus communities and for their support of advancement at their institutions. The award recognizes a District VII member institution president, headmaster, chancellor, system head, chief advancement officer, or other institutional executive leader for their outstanding efforts to promote a public understanding and support of advancement and education.

Nominees must demonstrate the ability to:

  • Create a vision and inspire others
  • Establish a positive image for their institution while leading it to even higher levels of success
  • Increase their institution's stature in the community
  • Increase innovation and risk-taking among employees
  • Support all aspects of advancement at their institution
  • Contribute to a greater public understanding and support of education

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 Distinguished Service Award (formerly the Tribute Award) was established by District VII in 1985 to recognize members who have maintained the highest standards of professionalism in their advancement careers, shared their expertise with members of the profession, and tirelessly supported CASE through volunteerism and advocacy. In 2019, the award was renamed to honor our colleague Nancy Treser-Osgood, who has been the consummate District VII volunteer for over 30 years. Winners of this award will exemplify the values Nancy has promoted through her years of volunteer service. You can read more about her here.   

The criteria for nominations are:

  • Ten years in the advancement profession with five years in District VII
  • A demonstrated and consistently high level of professional achievement
  • Exceptional mentoring and volunteer activities
  • Strong affiliation with CASE and/or NAIS

Learn more about submitting a nomination.

Nomination Instructions

The nominator must be on staff at a CASE member institution, educational affiliate, or educational partner.

All application materials are submitted online. Nominators will be asked to answer these questions:

  • Please provide a brief overview of why you are nominating this candidate for this award. If selected for an award, this statement will be used on the CASE website and in promotional materials.
  • In addition to attaching the candidate's resume/CV, please provide a brief summary of the candidate’s professional experience. If selected for an award, this statement may be used on the CASE website and in promotional materials. 
  • Describe the length, type and variety of service that the candidate has given to the institution. 
  • Describe the candidate’s involvement with CASE and/or other volunteer service. 

Nominators also will be asked to upload:

  • A resume/CV of the candidate.
  • A letter in support of the nomination from someone other than the person submitting the nomination.
  • LinkedIn Profile, if available.

The nomination period opens on Aug. 19, 2024, and closes on Oct. 11, 2024.

Past Winners

Titles and institutions indicate position at time of award.

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.

  • 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.

  • 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