The conference program committee of the Association for Higher Education Parent/Family Program Professionals recently named winners for outstanding contributions to the field at the 2010 AHEPPP National Conference. Thank you to all of our colleagues who submitted nominations. Awards were given in the following categories.

• Most Creative Institutional Initiative
• Contribution to the Field (emerging trends, research, assessment findings)
• Best Publications (print and electronic)

Conference Awards Recognize Excellence in the Field
There is clearly a wealth of knowledge, talent, and creativity in the field of parents and family programming as evidenced by the impressive nominations received for AHEPPP’s national conference awards.  Twenty-two nominations representing 17 institutions were submitted to recognize excellence in four categories.  The recipients were recognized at the closing ceremonies of the national conference and were presented with a commemorative trophy.  Our sincere congratulations to the following:

Contribution to the Field
A. Rae Simpson, Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Program Director, Parenting Education and Research
A specialist in parenting issues, Dr. Simpson conducts parenting workshops, consultations, and research. She has directed a project to gather and disseminate key findings on young adult development, including brain development. The work highlights the unique needs and characteristics of this age group and explores the implications for employers, parents, educators, university administrators, policymakers, health-care and human service practitioners, and others.  Dr. Simpson generously shares her findings with parent and family practitioners responding to individual questions and presenting at related conferences.  Her work often is cited to validate the need for parental support of traditional-aged college students. 

Creative Institutional Initiative
Bellarmine University
The Bellarmino Vino: Wine Tasting served as an outlet for parents to meet faculty, staff, and administrators, socialize with other parents, and ultimately build a sense of investment in the university.  Celebrating St. Robert Bellarmine, after whom the university is named, the event was a collaborative effort amongst multiple departments to create a unique, sustainable, and low-cost – yet elegant – activity showcasing student talents and encouraging interaction amongst parents, staff, and faculty. 

Best Publication
Printed: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Chosen for its innovative and functional design, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s calendar for parents excelled in its appeal to the needs of parents and user-friendly language and style. 

Electronic: University of Tennessee
Attractive and functional, the TENNESSEEFamily enewsletter is an exceptional example of an electronic publication designed to help families be an informed resource for their student.

2010 National Conference Award Nominees

Congratulations to the following institutions who received nominations for awards:

Rae Simpson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Most Creative Institutional Initiative

Bellarmine University

Dominican University

University of Alabama

West Virginia University

Best Publications Printed

Chapman University

Florida Atlantic University

James Madison University

Mississippi State University

Penn State University

University of Alabama

University of Kentucky

University of Oregon

University of South Carolina

University of Southern California

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Best Publication Electronic

Bellarmine University

Trinity University

University of Maryland