Leadership Awards

 
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Award Nominations

The 2024 NCCEP/GEAR UP Leadership Award Nominations are NOW OPEN! There are 3 categories for awards: (1) Family Leader of the Year, (2) Student of the Year, and (3) Professionals of the Year (one executive-level and one providing direct services). Award winners will be recognized at the 2024 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference in Washington, DC.

Our community is comprised of innumerable “GEAR UP Heroes” who are the change they wish to see in the world. We know that the success of your GEAR UP program relies on the collaborative efforts of your GEAR UP team, partners, and stakeholders, but that there are also those in your network that routinely exceed expectations.

With the annual NCCEP/GEAR UP Leadership Awards we wish to recognize those individuals for their contributions to GEAR UP as a whole. Please take a moment to nominate a professional, student, and/or family leader who deserves this national accolade from the GEAR UP community.

Nominations are due by Thursday, May 9th, 2024. Note that you can submit multiple nominations! Learn more and find submission guidelines below.

  • For student leadership award:
    -What makes this person an excellent candidate for this award?
    -How has the nominee’s work contributed to the improvement of college access and success for GEAR UP students?
    -How has the nominee’s work contributed to the improvement of college access and success for GEAR UP students?

    For family leadership award:
    -What makes this person an excellent candidate for this award?
    -How has the nominee's involvement with GEAR UP helped to encourage other families to become engaged in their child's college and career readiness?
    -What are above and beyond elements that come to mind when thinking of the nominee and their support of GEAR UP?

    For professional leadership award:
    -    What makes this person an excellent candidate for this award?
    -How has the nominee’s involvement with GEAR UP helped to encourage other students to become engaged in college and career readiness?
    -What are the above and beyond elements that come to mind when thinking about the nominee and their support of GEAR UP?

  • Include valuable recommendations and supporting documentation to highlight your GEAR UP superstar (e.g., letters of recommendation, videos, photos).

  • Use this form to submit your nomination.

  • We will follow up after the submission deadline. While you wait, consider nominating another GEAR UP hero in another award category!

 
 

2023 Recipients

2023 professional of the Year

Shaban Varajab, Project Data and Accounting Manager, GEAR UP South Bend! (Indiana)

2023 Professional of the Year

Dr. Duane Gregg, Director, GEAR UP Tennessee

2023 Student of the Year

Mackenzie Verdiner, GEAR UP Manchester (New Hampshire)

2023 Family Leader of the Year

Juana Rojas, California State University - Fullerton

Learn more about each NCCEP/GEAR UP Leadership Award.

  • The GEAR UP Family Leader of the Year is passionate and committed to the GEAR UP movement and the goal of ensuring that college access and success is available to all students. Through their work with other families, school faculty, staff, and partners of the GEAR UP grant, this person exudes perseverance to effectively assist students in their quest to access and succeed in a postsecondary education. We encourage you to think of the heroes in your community who are active in ensuring student success.

  • The GEAR UP Student of the Year is passionate and committed to the GEAR UP movement and the goal of ensuring that college access and success is available to all students. We encourage you to think of students in your GEAR UP program who embody GEAR UP’s mission to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

  • The GEAR UP Professional of the Year is passionate and committed to the GEAR UP movement and the goal of ensuring that college access and success is available to all students. Nominations for this award may include but are not limited to: directors, evaluators, coordinators, grant managers, family engagement facilitators, communications specialists, or college advisors.