The
history of the
MASFAA
Awards are filled
with names that
conjure up personal
characteristics
such as outstanding
skills, dedication,
integrity, support,
leadership,
patience, humor
and service.
Well
this year
was no different.
After dinner
on Wednesday,
November
18th,
President,
Kathy Osmond
recognized
another
group
of worthy
MASFAA Award
recipients.
Charles
Jones Achievement
Award
The Charles
Jones Achievement
Award is
named in
memory
of Chuck
Jones, who
dedicated
his career
to
helping
students.
A member
of
the financial
aid staff
at The
College
of the Holy
Cross, Chuck
was concerned
about the
access
and delivery
of aid to
ALL students.
Chuck
was a wonderful
person who
had an extremely
promising
career
that, unfortunately,
was cut
short by
a terminal
illness.
The
purpose
of this
award
is to
recognize
the achievements
and development
of a “new” financial
aid administrator
who has
held an
administrative
position
for
3 years
or less.
This
year’s
recipient,
Carla
DeLucia,
has
served on
MASFAA’s
Conference
Committee
and manages
loan programs
as a Financial
Aid Counselor
at Fisher
College.
She has
quickly
learned
all
aspects
of financial
aid and
no
matter
the situation
exhibits
a calm and
professional
demeanor.
She
ceaselessly
promotes
the
financial
literacy
sessions
that
she set
up on her
campus,
and on top
of
all of her
financial
aid responsibilities
still finds
time to
serve as
an adjunct
professor
and
tutor at
her
college.
MASFAA Presidential
Award
The MASFAA
Presidential
Award was
created
to recognize
outstanding
service
and
time dedicated
to MASFAA
during the
past years.
This award
is
given to
an individual
or
organization
that has
made important
contributions
to MASFAA
and
can be counted
on to complete
tasks for
the Association,
often with
little
fanfare.
Sherri
Avery, Director
of Financial
Aid from
Brandeis
University
personifies
all the
qualities
meant to
be
celebrated
by
this award
and we have
a stronger
association
thanks to
her
tireless
volunteerism.
Sherri was
selected
for her
13 years
of dedication
to MASFAA
and
the financial
aid profession.
There is
hardly
a position
in MASFAA
that
she has
not held.
From
her first
position
on the Newsletter
Committee
to her tenure
as
President
she has
given her
all, and
often.
Clearly
Sherri’s
talents
were recognized
very early
in her
career when
she was
awarded
the Chuck
Jones Award
in 1997.
For many
years, Sherri
was
actually
disqualified
from winning
MASFAA awards
simply because
of her deep
involvement
as part
of the
MASFAA Executive
Council.
MASFAA was
more than
ready to
bestow
the Presidential
Award to
Sherri along
with
a lot of
fanfare
for all
of
her
efforts.
Charles “Jack” Sheehan
Distinguished
Service
Award
The
Charles
Jack Sheehan
Distinguished
Service
Award
was
named
in honor
of ‘Jack’ Sheehan,
one of the
most respected
and
talented
financial
aid administrators
in our nation.
Jack was
an affectionate
advocate
for
students
and it shone
clearly
through
in every
detail of
his work.
He was
strongly
committed
to helping
other aid
professionals,
especially
those
less experienced.
He was always
willing
to answer
questions,
even when
he wasn’t
well, and
he never
made anyone
think that
their
question
wasn’t
a good one.
Jack served
as President
of this
Association
in 1983-84,
and it was
a tribute
to Jack
that he
was also
elected
President
of NASFAA,
our
National
Association.
Unfortunately,
a terminal
illness
prevented
him
from assuming
that office.
This award
was created
in Jack’s
memory
to recognize
distinguished
service
to the
financial
aid profession
and
is given
to an
individual
who exhibits
the traits
of intelligence,
integrity,
fairness,
ingenuity,
creativity,
humor,
involuntary
insomnia,
and endless
patience.
Recipients
make important
contributions
to the
financial
aid profession
because
of
a
commitment
to advancing
the
goals
of
the financial
aid administrator.
MASFAA
was pleased
to present
the
Jack Sheehan
Distinguished
Service
Award
to
Bernie
Pekala,
Director
of Financial
Strategies
at Boston
College.
Bernie
has well
represented
the financial
aid community
for many
years.
He is
aware
of the
essential
issues
facing
financial
aid administrators
from counseling
to theory
and
systems
to
practice.
He has
opinions
on everything-
just ask
him! He
takes
the profession
to
deeper
levels,
but presents
his knowledge
in a way
that
even the
most novice
administrator
can appreciate
and learn
from.
He
makes
the
legislative
process
less confusing
and isn’t
shy about
calling
whomever
he
needs
to in
Washington
D.C. to
make
a point.
He has
worked
tirelessly
for his
school
and
for MASFAA,
as a participant
on the
Executive
Council
and most
recently
as co-chair
of the
Government
Relations
Committee.
In these
times
of change
he has
represented
the interests
of MASFAA
and
the students
we serve
with strong
advocacy,
thorough
knowledge
and great
spirit.
Three
dedicated
professionals
have
been added
to the
long
list
of
prior
MASFAA
Award
recipients.
The
future of
MASFAA
is bright
with
the kind
of commitment
and
spirit that
these
awards
reflect. |
