It’s finally fall. Our respite. Our break. We have survived the cyclical exhilaration of Early Decision, the fatigue of February, the madness of March, the journey through June and July and the angst of August. We have been sustained by colleagues through their humor and hard work. We have learned new ways of looking at complex issues. We have shared in collective accomplishments and worked side by side to achieve institutional goals. Now, as we take well-deserved time to relax and reflect on our year gone by (or possibly forget), let us honor our fellow colleagues whose tireless work deserves MASFAA’s appreciation and recognition.

How can we thank our colleagues for their outstanding skills, dedication, integrity, support, leadership, patience, humor and service to students and institution?

Nominate them for a MASFAA Award. I know what you are thinking….I’ve thought it myself….I’m sure someone else will submit a nomination.  Does a nominee have to have cured cancer? Or simplified the FAFSA? What would I say? Well, MASFAA nominators before you had this to say and I bet you work with current MASFAA members with similar characteristics and accomplishments:

“…as a neophyte aid administrator, she volunteered…” “…she is a leader who always strives to find a better way…is insightful, proactive and driven when it comes to utilizing time efficiently…and never forgets the student’s perspective regarding the financial aid process. She understands the institutional perspective as well, but always counsels students and parents in the most honest, realistic and empathetic manner possible.”
(written of Sherri Culp, 1997)

“…her thoughtful and insightful comments and concerns kept us from losing sight of the families and students we serve.  She has a definite seriousness of purpose, yet it goes unmasked at times by her spirit and good humor, qualities that have saved many an aid administrator from extinction.”
(written of Sally Connolly, 1997)

“Anthony has taken the lead in installing, testing, and problem solving for all of his office’s EDE systems, not just Direct Loan. As a testament to his knowledge, he was nominated and selected as a national trainer for the most recent federal training series, The Electronic Aid Office.”
(written of Tony Erwin, 1998)

“gracious, outgoing, caring individual, who serves as an exemplary role model for us all.”
(written of Liz Fontaine, 1998)

“…tenacious individual who quietly and effectively gets things done while always being an advocate for the little person. She is recognized for her extraordinary talent, perseverance, moral character and caring for others.”
(written of Judy Allen, 1999)

“… [they] have consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty as volunteers of this Association.”  “… [they] exhibited grace under fire as problem after problem was presented to them.”
(written of David Goldman and Jamey Palmieri, 2006)

“…quiet, unassuming, and extremely professional in all that she does.  She is the "real McCoy," a true aid administrator of days gone by who can determine a family’s EFC, without a computer or a calculator, with amazing accuracy. Kathy believes that financial aid is an art, not a science, and this allows her to pull apart extremely difficult cases to obtain the fairest treatment for families.”
(written of Kathy Osmond, 2006)

“This individual never hesitated to voice a strong opinion if it was felt to be in the best interests of MASFAA.”
(written of Carla Berg, 2007)

“This individual has never been one to just sit back and let things happen. Instead, this person always makes a significant effort to become a part of the process.”
(written of Leah Barry, 2007)

“This person delights in counseling families about the financial aid process, financing, etc. and is the first person to volunteer to meet with a student or parent who shows up without an appointment. She enjoys the counseling portion of her job so much that her colleagues joke that she holds the national record for the longest conversation with a student or parent, both in person and via phone!”
(written of Catherine Nelson, 2007)

What will be said of our 2008 award recipients?  It’s in your hands.  Now go to the MASFAA website and complete the Awards Nomination Form under ‘About Us’ or team up with your friends and submit a nomination together. Members must be logged in to submit a nomination. Current officers and Executive Council members are not eligible to receive an award. All nominations must be received by October 16, 2008, so that Executive Council can select winners at the October meeting.

The awards are:

Charles "Jack" Sheehan Distinguished Service Award
Recognizes service to the financial aid profession. The recipient will exhibit the traits of intelligence, integrity, fairness, ingenuity, creativity, humor, involuntary insomnia, and endless patience. The recipient will have provided an important contribution to the financial aid profession because of a commitment in advancing the goals of the financial aid administrator.

MASFAA Presidential Award
Recognizes outstanding service and time to MASFAA during the past year(s). The recipient can be an individual or organization. The recipient will have made an important contribution to MASFAA either by a single achievement or achievements accomplished over a period of time. Also, the recipient can be counted on to complete tasks for the Association often with little fanfare.

Charles E. Jones Achievement Award
Recognizes achievements and development of a new financial aid administrator who has held an administrative position in financial aid for three years or less. The recipient will show outstanding achievement in the areas of leadership ability, communication skills, professional development, decision making, service to students, or service to institution.