Awards

Nominations for the awards listed below are solicited from the membership and the awards are presented at the Annual Conference. Nominations for 2026 awards can be made by EASFAA members in early 2026.

Life Membership (Honorary Life Membership)
EASFAA's highest award is given to individuals who have made an outstanding and sustained contribution to student financial aid. Nominations may be made by any member of the Association. Approval by a majority of voting members of Regional Council. Recognition is given at the annual conference.

Past Recipients:

2025 - Howard Leslie, Maribeth Quinn
2024 - Jim Anderson, Catherine Boscher-Murphy, Allene Begley Curto
2023 - David Sheridan, Rachel Lohman, David Myette
2022 - Neville Brown, Odette Franceskino, Larry Chambers
2021 - Tom Dalton
2020 - Suzy Allen
2018 - Rich Heath, Barbara Miller, John View
2017 - Christine Zuzack
2016 - Robert Shorb, Joseph Roberto
2015 - Heather McDonnell
2014 - Jeff Baker
2012 - Daniel Madzelan
2011 - Yvonne Gittens
2010 - Michael Bennett
2009 - Sammy Rivera
2008 - Kathleen Smith
2007 - Irvin Bodofsky, George Chin
2006 - Senator Jim Jeffords
2005 - Claiborne Pell
2005 - William Irwin
2003 - Congressman Goodling
1995 - Joseph Sciame
1994 - Dallas Martin, Maria DeJesus

Distinguished Service Award
Given to individuals who have made significant contributions to EASFAA through leadership, activities, and/or research in financial aid. Recognizes service to the Association over a period of professional involvement, not a single event or activity. Awarded no more often than once a year at the annual conference. Awarded only at such times as a suitable recipient is clearly identified. Nominations may be made by any member of the Association. Nominations are reviewed by a committee consisting of the immediate past president, the president-elect, and the vice president. One or more names may be recommended to the Regional Council. Approval by a majority vote of the Council necessary to give the award. (This award is not intended as recognition for EASFAA officers for their service in office alone.)

Past Recipients:

2025 - Jim Anderson
2024 - Robert Weinerman
2023 - Katrina Delgrosso, Marie Johnson
2022 - David Sheridan
2021 - Sam Veeder
2020 - Wynette Zuppardi
2019 - Tom Dalton
2018 - Larry Chambers
2017 - Tony Erwin
2016 - Neville Brown, Odette Franceskino
2015 - Richard Heath
2014 - Allene Curto
2013 - Barbara Williams
2012 - William Cheetham, Barbara Miller
2011 - Betty Davis
2010 - Christine Zuzack
2009 - Michael McGraw
2008 - Susan Howard, Richard Woodland
2007 - Susan Allen
2006 - Robert Shorb
2005 - Larry Zaglaniczny
2004 - John View
2003 - David Myette
2002 - George Chin
2001 - Michael Bennett
1999 - Irvin Bodofsky
1998 - Russell Woodward
1997 - Rachael Lohman
1996 - William Irwin
1995 - Pamela Gilligan
1994 - Robert Condon

Leadership Award
May be given annually to recognize individual(s) who has (have) provided outstanding leadership to the Association or to an Association activity in the preceding year. Given at the annual conference. Nominees are determined by the Executive Committee and State Representatives and one or more names may be submitted to the Regional Council. Recipient(s) must be approved by a majority vote of the Council. (This award is not intended to recognize the President of the Association for his/her year in Office.)

Past Recipients:

2025 - Gena Boling
2024 - Doug Wilson
2023 - Tanya Patterson-Stanley
2022 - Rich Neilsen
2021 - Julie Lawton
2020 - Tisa Silver Canady, Danette Burgess
2019 - Pat Johnson
2018 - Cheryl DePaolis, Marie Johnson
2017 - Brian Lemma
2016 - James Murphy
2015 - Wynette Zuppardi
2014 - Samantha Veeder
2013 - Odette Franceskino
2012 - Neville Brown, Dawn Mosisa
2011 - Maribeth Quinn
2010 - Gisele Joachim
2009 - Mila Tappan
2008 - Anne Barton
2007 - Barbara Miller
2006 - Cathy Patella
2005 - David Manning
2004 - Larry Chambers
2004 - Elena Garcia
2003 - Bob Shorb
2003 - Holly Zaglaniczny
2002 - Susan Howard
2001 - Christine A. Zuzack
2000 - Rich Woodland - Chairperson, Graduate Concerns Committee
2000 - John View - Chairperson, Training/Leadership Committee
1999 - Susan Allen
1998 - Ben Carey
1997 - Michael Bennett
1996 - David Myette
1995 - Doug Bucher
1994 - John Skarr
1994 - Rachael Lohman
1994 - Francine Andrea

Outstanding Volunteer Award
Awarded to recognize individual(s) for outstanding service performed to the Association as a non-elected volunteer. Nominees are determined by the Executive Committee and State Representatives and one or more names submitted to the Regional Council. Recipient(s) must be approved by a majority vote of the Council.

Past Recipients:

2025 - Mika Lim
2024 - Jason Kahn
2023 - Catherine Boscher-Murphy
2022 - Krysta Gingue
2021 - Maureen Fagen
2020 - Rich Neilsen
2019 - Adrienne Montgomery
2018 - Julie Lawton, Kevin Mahaney
2017 - Gregory Davis
2016 - Maribeth Quinn
2015 - Nasim Keshavarz
2014 - Jeff Bentley
2013 - Kristi Jovell
2012 - Gretchen Bonfardine, Rachel Brinkley Smith
2011 - Odette Franceskino
2010 - Heather McDonnell
2009 - Brian Lemma
2008 - Neville Brown
2007 - Gordon Koff
2006 - Fran Andrea
2005 - David Sheridan
2004 - Joseph Roberto
2003 - Dadizi Baker-Cummings
2002 - Barbara Miller, Howard Entin
2001 - Matthew Spina
1999 - Gary Spoales
1998 - Christine Zuzack
1997 - Sharon Austin-Hassan
1996 - Anna Breland
1995 - Russell Woodward

NASFAA Regional Award
Awarded to recognize outstanding contributions to the financial aid profession over a sustained period of time.

Past Recipients:

2023 - Tom Dalton
2022 - Samantha Veeder
2021 - Kristi Jovell
2020 - Neville R. Brown
2019 - Wynette Zuppardi
2018 - Odette Franceskino
2016 - Maribeth Quinn
2015 - Larry Chambers
2014 - Barbara Miller
2013 - Robert D. Shorb
2012 - Mary Miller
2011 - Cathy Patella

Diversity Mentorship Scholarship
Awarded to a current EASFAA member of an under-represented group in the Association (racial or ethnic minority group, LGBT/non-binary, or a person with a disability). This recipient agrees to continue to volunteer on an EASFAA committee and secure, in writing, supervisor/institutional support for time away from the office to participate in EASFAA activities. In exchange the recipient receives a scholarship to attend the annual conference, hotel included.

Past Recipients:

2023 - Cherishe Cumma-Clarke

EASFAA Recognitions

President's Recognition for Service to the Association
Given at the discretion of the president to recognize service to the Association within a given year by officers, committee chairs, committee members, or others. Presented at the annual conference. (Such recognition does not preclude receipt of an Association Award.)

Past Recipients:

2025 - Rich Neilsen
2024 - Shawn Morrisey, Tisa Silver-Canady
2023 - Tanya Patterson-Stanley
2022 - Douglas Wilson
2021 - Danette Burgess
2020 - Kat Delgrosso
2019 - Ashley Bianchi, Cheryl DePaolis
2018 - Tom Dalton
2017 - Cheryl DePaolis
2016 - Dawn Lowe
2015 - Larry Chambers
2014 - Maribeth Quinn
2013 - Wynette Zuppardi
2012 - Brian Lemma
2011 - Barbara Miller, John View
2010 - Cathleen Patella
2010 - David Manning
2009 - Richard Heath
2008 - Larry Chambers, James Murphy
2007 - Susan Howard
2006 - Irv Bodofsky
2005 - Eleanor A. Kelly
2004 - Mary Miller
2003 - Rachael Lohman
2002 - David Sheridan
2001 - Ernestine Whiting-Settles
2000 - Joseph R. Roberto
2000 - Suzy Allen
1999 - David Myette
1998 - Kathleen Smith
1997 - Robert Shorb
1996 - Sue Butler
1995 - Andrea Cross
1994 - Pamela Gilligan

Committee Recognition
Given at the discretion of the president to any committee(s) of the Association determined to have made an outstanding contribution to the activities of the Association within a particular year. Given at the annual conference

Past Recipients:

2025 - Committee at Large: Mika Lim, Justin Welliver, Kendrick Myles, Jaron Tucker, Doug Wilson, Asia Taj, Naglaa Gaafar Rego
2024 - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee: Tanya Patterson Stanley, chair
Federal Relations: Gena Boling, chair
2023 - EASFAA Connects: Jim Anderson and Julie Lawton, co-chairs
2022 - Strategic Planning Committee: Howard Leslie, chair
2021 - Training Committee: Maureen Fagen and Shannon Gallagher, co-chairs
2020 - Conference Committee: Julie Lawton and David Sheridan, co-chairs
2019 - Conference Committee: Wynette Zuppardi and Tom Dalton, co-chairs
2018 - Training Committees: Ashley Bianchi Chair of EASFAA Leads, Philip Hawkins Chair of EASFAA Credentials, Brian Lemma Chair of Tuesdays@2, Ashley Ruszczyk Chair of Annual Training
2017 - Training Committee: Maribeth Quinn, Chair
2016 - Leadership and Mentoring: James Murphy, Chair
2015 - Multicultural Diversity Committee: Marie Johnson, Chair
2014 - Training Committee: Larry Chambers and Kristi Jovell, co-chairs
2013 - Social Media Committee: Nasim Keshavarz, Chair
2012 - Federal Relations Committee: Dawn Mosisa and Rachel Brinkley Smith, co-chairs
2011 - Conference Committee: Odette Franceskino and Wynette Richardson, co-chairs
Vendor Relations: Kimber Decker and Dave Manning, co-chairs
Leadership Development: Mila Tappan and Dominic Yoia, co-chairs
2010 - Multicultural/Diversity, Barbara Williams, Chair
2009 - Conference, Brian Lemma, Chair
2008 - Federal Relations - Pierre Alric, Irvin Bodofsky. Co-Chairs
Graduate and Professional Concerns - Odette Franceskino, Chair
2007 - Newsletter Committee, Ann Playe, Chair
2006 - Graduate and Professional Concerns, Co-Chairs, Michelle Chamley, Richard Woodland
2005 - Membership Committee, Beth C. Turner, Chair
2004 - Conference Committee, Mary Miller, Chair
2004 - Training Committee, Ken Ferreira, Chair
2003 - Electronic Initiatives, Howard Entin, Chair
2002 - Newsletter, Kenneth Ferreira, Chairperson
2001 - Multi-Cultural Diversity, Elena Garcia, Chair
2000 - Conference Committee, Doug Bucher, Chair
2000 - Development Committee, Tim Balfour, Chair
1999 - Conference Committee
1998 - Conference Committee
1997 - Training Committee
1996 - Non-Traditional Concerns
1995 - Development Committee
1994 - Training Committee

Outstanding State Representative
This award is given at the discretion of the President to one of the state representatives currently serving on EASFAA Council and is in recognition of outstanding service and support for the goals and objectives of EASFAA at the state level. This recognition does not preclude receipt of any other Association Award. It is given at the annual conference.

Past Recipients:

2025 - Patti Beers, New York; Tanner Matchus, Vermont
2024 - Alex Guiral, New Jersey; Carmen Rivera-Laboy, Puerto Rico
2023 - Will O'Shea, Maine
2022 - Asia Taj, New Jersey
2021 - Howard Leslie, New York
2020 - Carmen Rivera-Laboy, Puerto Rico
2019 - Anne McDermott, Rhode Island
2018 - Danette Burgess, District of Columbia
2017 - Alex Muro, Connecticut
2016 - Kerrie Cooper, New York
2015 - Gregory Davis, Vermont
2014 - Patrice Shoemaker, Tri-State
2013 - Daniel Tramuta, New York
2012 - Ninfa Mueller, New Jersey
2011 - Gail Holt, Massachusetts
2010 - Michelle Chamley, Vermont
2009 - Nasim Keshavarz, Maryland
2008 - John Giordano, Connecticut
2007 - Maribeth Quinn, New Jersey
2006 - Clint Hanson, New Hampshire
2005 - Mila D. Tappan, Maine
2004 - Anne Barton, New York

State Excellence Award
This award is given at the discretion of the President to a state that exemplified the spirit of community, creativity, innovation, and inclusive leadership in the financial aid profession during the past year. It is given at the annual conference.

Past Recipients:

2025 - Tri-State

Retirement Recognition
For members of the Association retiring from full-time professional work, whose most recent career has been in financial aid, and whose service to the profession is at least 15 years. The recipient must have or will be retired within 12 months from the last EASFAA conference. Eligible retirees may be any member of the Association. Recognition will be made at the annual conference.

Fifteen, Twenty, and Twenty-Five Year Service Recognition
Recognition of a professional career in student financial aid for periods of at least the time specified for each level. Designated by special ribbon for name badge at the annual conference and by recognition at the annual business meeting or some other suitable time during the conference. Recipients determined by question on conference registration form and appropriate ribbon provided with conference packet.