NCDA Members Awards
NCDA aims to recognize and honor its excellent members. Annual awards will be presented at the NCDA Global Career Development conference. Detailed descriptions of award winners are included in the Fall issue of Career Developments magazine for members.
Previous award winners:
2023 NCDA Award Winners | 2022 NCDA Award Winners | 2021 NCDA Award Winners | 2020 NCDA Award Winners | 2019 NCDA Award Winners | 2018 NCDA Award Winners | 2017 NCDA Award Winners | 2016 NCDA Award Winners | 2015 NCDA Award Winners | 2014 NCDA Award Winners | 2013 NCDA Award Winners | 2012 NCDA Award Winners | 2011 NCDA Award Winners
Watch here for the 2025 nomination form.
Please review the descriptions of each award below. Follow all instructions in the award nomination form. All nominations (including reference letters) are due by January 31st. Any NCDA member may submit a nomination for any member for any of the award categories below. The NCDA Award Form must be completed for each award, unless otherwise noted. The NCDA Awards Committee will use the stated criteria to select recipients for each award. One winner will be selected per award category unless otherwise noted in the description. Questions may be addressed to the Award Committee Co-Chairs, Delasia Rice drice13@fordham.edu and Ken Meeker kenmeekeraz@gmail.com.
See the Sample Award Nomination Packet for individuals and our new Sample Nomination Packet for groups.
NCDA Member Awards:
Diversity Initiative
This award promotes and recognizes the individual or team who through their initiatives and commitment, have demonstrated a high degree of cultural responsiveness within the domain of career related activities. The award is selected by NCDA’s Awards Committee in collaboration with a representative from NCDA's Diversity Initiatives and Cultural Inclusion Committee.
Criteria for Selection: An individual or a team selected for this award will have documented evidence of one or more of the following areas of involvement.
- Significantly enhanced our understanding of and appreciation of the complex career development needs of diverse populations and historically marginalized groups
- Contributed to the professional growth of culturally competent and sensitive career counselors
- Provided mentorship for diverse graduate students and professionals in the field of career counseling
- Successfully advocated for systemic changes that lead to the elimination or reduction of barriers impacting the career development of diverse and/or historically marginalized individuals.
A group nomination also needs to include:
- Overall mission, services, vision, goals, and/or strategic planning. What is unique about this team that distinguishes it above and beyond peer groups?
- Summary of past/current year plans describing the resources, programs and services that directly promote the career development needs of diverse populations and historically marginalized groups.
- Highlights of at least one resource or program including description, measurements, and results that had a successful impact.
- Best practices for effective business development planning. What can other teams gain from your group’s experience and success?
- Describe any challenges and obstacles that were present during this plan and the steps taken to overcome them. Include a summary of the results and whether the challenges were overcome or not.
Eminent Career
People who have eminent careers are those that have influenced either the practice of, or the thinking (theorizing) about career development through leadership activities or scholarship. Their careers are characterized by frequent, periodic, and sustained activities over a substantial period of time. Each recipient must hold at least five continuous years of membership in NCDA. The Eminent Career Award Selection Committee shall consist of the last five recipients of the award. Current NCDA Board of Directors members are not eligible.
Read the Eminent Career Award Guidelines (updated 2021) for a summary of the three stage process (which begins with a nomination letter prior to January 31) that will be followed in identifying the winner of this prestigious award. (The NCDA Awards Form is not applicable.)
Click here to see a list of all Eminent Award winners.
Exemplary Career Center
(One GROUP per each of the following two (2) areas may be selected each year):
These awards promote the continued development and implementation of thoughtful and innovative initiatives that support career development for outstanding service within two areas: 1) education, government or business and 2) non-profit or community organizations. The award is selected by NCDA’s Awards Committee.
Criteria for Selection for Education, Government or Business: A GROUP selected for this award will have documented evidence of the following.
- Overall mission, services, vision, goals, and/or strategic plan. What is unique about this center that distinguishes it above and beyond peer organizations?
- Collaborations with internal and/or external community groups such as students, local employers, non-profit organizations, etc. in order to enhance services.
- Development and implementation of at least one resource or program including measurement or description of successful impact.
- Description of challenges and obstacles that were present during this plan and the steps taken to overcome them. Include a summary of the results whether the challenges were overcome or not.
- Articulation of plans for future growth and investment in resources/programs that promote career development.
Criteria for Selection for Non-profit or Community Organizations: A GROUP selected for this award will have documented evidence of the following.
- Overall mission, services, vision, goals, and/or strategic plan. What is unique about this center that distinguishes it above and beyond peer organizations?
- Summary of past/current year plans describing the resources, programs and services that directly promote the career development of intended audience.
- Highlights of at least one resource or program including description, measurements and results that had a successful impact.
- Best practices for effective business development planning. What can other centers gain from this organization’s experience and success?
- Describe any challenges and obstacles that were present during this plan and the steps taken to overcome them. Include a summary of the results whether the challenges were overcome or not.
Graduate Student Research
The NCDA Graduate Student Research Award was established to honor graduate students who undertake exemplary research addressing topics related to career information, career development and career planning. This award includes a $500.00 grant to defray costs for a student-led research project approved by the student's major professor or professor overseeing the research, which may or may not be completed at the time of application. The student's thesis advisor major professor must endorse the award application in writing in the form of a recommendation letter. Relevance, significance, and research design will be given primary attention in determining the award recipient. The award is selected by NCDA's Research Committee. View the list of previous NCDA Research Grant Recipients.
Criteria for Selection: A Graduate Student selected for this award will have documented evidence for the following areas.
Minimum requirements for the Graduate Student include:
- Must be enrolled in a graduate education program at a college or university.
- Must include a reference letter with signature from their major professor showing approval of the research topic as being appropriate to their field of study.
The merits of the research proposal will be judged on a 100-point scale (see Research Award Rubric).
A Grad Student Research Award Form & Cover Sheet must be completed and submitted as instructed in the form (the nomination form for other NCDA Member Awards is not applicable).
International Practitioner of the Year
This award was established to recognize a member who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of NCDA’s mission in their respective country. Contributions may impact career counseling/coaching practice, research, counseling student development, related governmental organizations, or other relevant arenas. The award is selected by NCDA’s Awards Committee in collaboration with a representative from NCDA's Global Connections Committee.
Criteria for Selection: An individual selected for this award will have documented evidence for each of the following areas of involvement.
- At least 8-15 years within or across career counseling/coaching practice, research, counseling student development work, related governmental organization work, or other relevant arenas.
- Quality of service as indicated by contributing to the advancement of NCDA’s mission through innovative programs and/or recognition by local/national/international organizations, publications, etc.
- Service to the profession as indicated by participation and leadership in professional associations at the local, regional, national and/or international levels.
Legislative
This award was established to recognize national, state or local legislators or practicing career counselors, consultants or career educators for outstanding performance in career development advocacy. The award is selected by NCDA’s Awards Committee in collaboration with a representative from NCDA's Government Relations Committee.
Criteria for Selection: An individual selected for this award will have documented evidence of one or more of the following areas of involvement.
- Nature of the Work: Gathering of information and/or presenting testimony of influence resulting in the introduction and/or passage of a bill, amendment, or policy change of significance to the profession or its recipients.
- Significance of the Legislative Action: The action had a widespread effect which allowed the profession to be more effective and/or broadened areas of service or provided for more clients or groups to be served.
- Relevance to the Profession: The action was primarily concerned with the profession of career development and/or its recipients.
Merit
This award was established to recognize significant contributions to the field of career development.
Criteria for selection: An individual selected for this award will have documented evidence for each of the following areas of involvement:
- Education and mentoring of career counseling students;
- Development of, or leadership in, exemplary career programs;
- Conduct significant research in the field; and
- Advocacy efforts to inform and persuade policy makers about career development.
NCDA Fellow
The term “Fellow” is a person of professional distinction within an academic institution or society. The designation of fellow is conferred to recognize outstanding and substantial contributions in science, teaching and training, practice, service, policy development and political action. The NCDA Fellows Distinction, one of the highest honors by the NCDA, recognizes members who have contributed to--and advanced--the career development professional throughout their career. NCDA Fellows should have prior experience within the association including leadership involvement, attendance at and participation in NCDA events and other related involvement that is unique to the applicant. It is considered an honor to be awarded this distinction. Those eligible for election to Fellow shall have made outstanding contributions to the field of career development and NCDA for a minimum of 10 years. This distinction is determined by a sub-committee of current NCDA Fellows. Being distinguished as an NCDA Fellow includes membership into the NCDA Brain Trust, and implies an ongoing commitment to leadership and service to NCDA. Click here to see a list of NCDA Fellows.
Criteria for Selection: An individual selected for this award will have documented evidence for each of the following areas of involvement.
- Ten years of membership in NCDA.
- Master’s degree or higher in counseling or closely related field from a college or university that was accredited when the degree was awarded by one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation. (Document on resume or vita.)
- Five years of post-master’s experience in career counseling and development. (Document experience on resume or vita.)
- Documented involvement in, service to, and leadership within NCDA (narrative).
Achievement of two of the following criteria is required:
- Major and significant contributions on career development theory or practice as demonstrated by national and/or international recognition.
- Providing strong and sustained leadership in the career counseling and development profession.
- Engaged in education and training, practice or research, or political action in career counseling and development.
- Sustained commitment to career counseling and development through research, theory, practice or leadership.
Outstanding Career Practitioner
This award was established to recognize practicing career counselors and career service providers for outstanding performance and best practices in the day-to-day services they provide. The award is selected by NCDA’s Awards Committee.
Criteria for Selection: An individual selected for this award will have documented evidence across provided nomination, including references and/or resume or vita materials.
- Five years of membership in NCDA.
- At least 8 years of direct work with regard to career development in Higher Education, K-12, Private Practice &/or Consulting, Business/Industry, Government or Non-profit/Community Organization settings.
- Training in counseling or closely related field from a college, university or NCDA-recognized credentialing body.
- Documented involvement in, service to, and leadership within NCDA, state CDA and/or related professional associations at the local, regional, national and/or international levels.
Nominations are rated and competitively compared according to the following criteria:
- Sustained and significant contributions to career development theory/scholarship, education/training/mentoring and/or practice clearly demonstrated throughout all the components of the nomination submission.
- Strong and sustained service to, and leadership within, the career development profession. Leadership is broadly defined to include such activities as chairing professional committees, serving on journal editorial boards, being an elected leader or an ongoing, active participant in NCDA or other related professional organizations that promote the practice and science of career development, developing new programs in career services, and providing locally, regionally, nationally and/or internationally recognized innovations.
- Active and sustained engagement in advocacy at the local, regional, national and/or international level for career development.
Outstanding State CDA
View the description and link to the State CDA nomination form here.
Service to International Students
This award promotes and recognizes college/university career services offices/career centers OR individuals within a college/university career services office/career center that have/has made an active commitment to partnering with and supporting the career development of international students. The award is selected by NCDA’s Awards Committee in collaboration with a representative from NCDA's Service to International Students Committee.
Criteria for Selection: An individual or a team selected for this award will have documented evidence of the following areas of involvement.
- Career services offices/career centers within a college or university setting where the individual nominee or at least one individual on the nominated team must hold an active NCDA membership.
- Uphold an expressed commitment (through mission, vision, goals, and/or strategic planning) to partnering with and engaging international students in the career development process.
- Development and successful implementation of at least one resource or program that supports international students, providing brief quantitative or qualitative measurement of impact and/or description of successful implementation. Resources and programs can be developed and implemented in collaboration with campus offices and partnerships outside of career services.
- Articulation of plans for continued growth and investment in resources/programs that build partnership with and in support of international students across the next year.
