This award is presented to an individual who has made an important contribution to the Association or to the profession. To receive a Meritorious Achievement Award the individual should have made either an important single contribution to the Association or the profession; or significant multiple contributions to the Association or the profession.

The NASFAA Awards Nomination process is now open for member nominations until February 14, 2020. Winners will be announced this summer at the NASFAA National Conference.

2019 Meritorious Achievement Award Winner

Tony Sozzo, associate dean for student affairs and student financial planning at New York Medical College

Tony is the glue that holds together not one, but two financial aid communities. As the Founder and moderator of the MedAidL listserv and the longtime moderator of the NASFAA Graduate/Professional listserv, Tony provides updates regarding financial aid and industry news items that impact our communities and acts as a resource to the graduate/professional community on a daily basis. Although the graduate/professional financial aid community is small, Tony has worked vigorously over the years to make sure that the voices of both the profession and the students are heard. He has served on numerous committees and task forces, including acting as Chair of the NASFAA Graduate/Professional Caucus twice and a three-year term as the AAMC Committee on Student Financial Aid. Tony’s dedication to his colleagues and to the graduate/professional community and its students is amazing and inspires all who know him. He has been working at New York Medical College since 1984 and is currently the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Over the last 34 years at NYMC, Tony has been honored with eight special Medical Student Senate Service Citations and Mentoring awards. He was also awarded the NYMC chapter of the American Medical Woman’s Association “Gender Equity Award”. Tony has received a BA and an MS in ED from IONA College, and an MA in Higher Education from Columbia University Teachers College. Tony is a wonderful colleague and
friend and his joy and enthusiasm for assisting his colleagues and students is contagious.

Past winners list