2027 Professional Awards: CEC Outstanding Student Chapter Advisor

The CEC Outstanding Student Chapter Advisor Award honors a college/university CEC Student Chapter Advisor who has demonstrated exemplary commitment to engaging students in their CEC Chapter and guiding their educational, personal, and professional development in the field of special education.

This award originally was initiated in 1982 to honor Dr. Susan Phillips Gorin and her contributions as coordinator of CEC student activities from 1975-1982.

Eligibility

The CEC Outstanding Student Chapter Advisor Award recipient must: 

1. Be a current CEC member at the time of nomination and granting of the award;
2. Demonstrate CEC’s core values:

• Visionary Thinking: Demonstrated by forward-thinking and courageous decision-making dedicated to excellence and influence in an evolving environment.
• Integrity: Demonstrated by ethical, responsive behavior; transparency; and accountability.
• Inclusiveness: Demonstrated by a commitment to diversity, caring, and respect for the dignity and worth of all individuals.

       3. Support CEC Student Chapter Members by:

• Providing mentoring, and peer mentoring opportunities by chapter members, to recruit, retain, and support special education teacher candidates;
• Designing and implementing service activities (e.g., tutoring, social engagement opportunities for students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents, after school programs, etc.);
• Providing networking opportunities to enhance employment opportunities for special education teacher candidates;
• Implementing culturally responsive/sustaining practices in recruiting diverse individuals as chapter members;
• Conducting fundraisers to support students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents (e.g., supplies/programs for teachers; special activities/programs for students, etc.); and/or
• Engaging in recruitment initiatives to encourage high school and other college/university students to consider becoming a special educator.

Recognition and Benefits

The award recipient will be:

• Provided with complimentary registration to attend the CEC Convention & Expo
• Recognized, and receive a commemorative plaque, at an Awards Luncheon
• Given a $500 cash honorarium; and
• Featured in a press release on the CEC website (https://exceptionalchildren.org)

How to Nominate

Nomination Materials

• A Letter/Statement of Support from the nominator
• Letter of Support from a colleague, supervisor, or other professional (not the nominator) familiar with the nominee’s work addressing their efforts in meeting the award criteria, and the outcomes/impact
• Letter of Support from a current or recent former student (within the past three years) addressing the nominee’s efforts in meeting the award criteria, and the outcomes/impact

Nomination Process

• All application materials must be submitted together to CEC Headquarters by September 30, 2026.
• Alternatively, responses can be emailed to Stephen Alleyne at salleyne@exceptionalchildren.org.
• Please use file name(s) to clearly indicate reference to the nominee and award. (e.g., “Smith_Lifetime_Award.docx” or “Smith_Lifetime_Nomination.docx”).
• All materials become the property of CEC and will not be returned.