This award recognizes a NAFSA member employed in the field of international education for fewer than five (5) years, who has demonstrated a notable commitment to the field through professional or volunteer activities, and who is active in NAFSA at the regional and/or national level. This recipient of this award will automatically be nominated for a Rising Professional award at the national level.

This award includes a plaque and a monetary gift of $100 to be used for professional development. In the event that the recipient is an employee of the federal government or can be seen to have a conflict of interest, no monetary award will be included.

The official presentation of the award will be made at the regional conference.

Past Recipients

• 2024- Nick Oo (UMass Amherst)
• 2023- Sam Bor (Bentley University)
• 2022-Loren Scott (Middlebury College)
• 2021- Hannah Parten- (Wesleyan University)
• 2020 - Emily Nagle (Academic Programs International) View Emily's nomination video
• 2019 - Lauren (Lo) Chow (Babson College)
• 2018 - Mary Struzska-Tyamayev (Simmons University)
• 2017 - Alisia Engle (CAPA)
• 2016 - Ilse Damkoehler (Emerson College)
• 2015 - Emily Keizer (School One)
• 2014 - Meaghan Murphy (University of Hartford)
• 2013 - John Crisafulli (Babson College)
• 2012 - Lindsey Hery (Endicott College)
• 2011 - Katherine Jacobs (Providence College)
• 2010 - Rae Barter (University of Connecticut)
• 2009 - Catherine Sacco (Rhode Island School of Design)
• 2008 - Patty Doherty (Clark University)
• 2006 - Bryan McAllister-Grande (Clark University)
• 2005 - Destiny Dudley (American International College)