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The purpose of the awards is to recognize individual state associations of student financial aid administrators for outstanding projects that contribute to the financial aid profession. This recognition is to encourage creative and innovative service to individuals or groups of individuals who are directly or indirectly involved in student financial aid.

In each of four categories, one award will be given for the project that is judged best to provide:

• Service to the Financial Aid Profession;
• Service to Students, Parents, or Families;
• Service to Other Constituencies, e.g., legislators, other institutional administrators, secondary school counselors, etc; and
• Service to Advance the Goals of Access and Diversity.

Winners

Selected state associations will receive a $500 award and a display banner that resides permanently with the state association. Presentation of the awards will take place at NASFAA's Conference in July 2002. There may be a category of Honorable Mention to allow meritorious projects not receiving formal awards to receive appropriate recognition. The Awards Committee reserves the right to adjust the number of Honorable Mention awards based upon the quality of projects submitted. All projects submitted for consideration become the property of NASFAA, which may publish information for members to use for their own state associations or institutions.

Eligibility Rules

• For any project to be submitted by the state association, the project must have been initiated by the state institution, implemented, and evaluated within the last two years.
• An evaluation of the project must be conducted by the state association and included with the application.
• Ongoing projects will be considered, but only if a full cycle of activity that allows for thorough evaluation has been completed.
• All state associations of student financial aid administrators that are recognized as such by NASFAA are eligible to participate in the competition.
• Multiple submissions will be accepted.
• Projects submitted in one year will not be considered in subsequent years from the same state association unless the project has been modified to improve effectiveness.
• Projects that are based on NASFAA-developed materials will not be considered.
• The Awards Committee reserves the right to eliminate projects that do not meet these guidelines.

Projects will be evaluated by NASFAA's Awards Committee. Each project will receive equal consideration regardless of the size of the state. An evaluation system has been devised which weighs the following criteria.

• Originality: The project reflects a new idea or a creative and innovative approach to an old idea. (15 points)
• Applicability to other states.  The concept or project can be duplicated or transferred to other states and/or regions easily and at reasonable cost. (15 points)
• Impact on student financial aid.  The project increases the target population's knowledge of student aid and/or enables the target population to better manage student aid funds through increased knowledge. The project furthers the goals, purposes, and objectives of student financial aid.  (15 points)
• Fulfillment of project objectives.  The project succeeded in accomplishing the stated objective and purpose. (10 points)

• One application must be completed for each project submitted.
• The application form may be copied for multiple submissions.
• Each application must be signed by the state association president.
• The completed application must include a narrative explanation of the project a detailed evaluation, and any exhibits necessary to fully demonstrate the project.
• Applicants are encouraged to include any evaluative instruments and results that might assist in the review of the projects.
• To aid the evaluating committee, applicants must include a listing of all materials to be evaluated.
• Submissions will not be returned.
• One original and eight copies of all applications and materials, including videotapes, must be received (not postmarked) in the NASFAA office by February 22, 2002.

Please note that late entries and projects that do not conform to application specifications will not be considered.

Update August 2, 2001, NASFAA Web Site www.nasfaa.org
Copyright 2001, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Redistribution to nonmember institutions is prohibited