The SUNY Mental Health Champion Award recognizes faculty and staff who go above and beyond their job responsibilities to demonstrate exceptional dedication and advocacy for mental health awareness and support within the campus community. Recipients are acknowledged for promoting mental health awareness, leading initiatives to combat stigma, advocating for mental health resources, fostering a positive mental health environment on campus, and enhancing wellness and suicide prevention efforts. The awardee should exhibit strong leadership skills to effectively organize, motivate, and engage students in mental health-related outreach and educational endeavors. This award celebrates their commitment to creating a positive and inclusive environment that prioritizes mental wellness for all students. Special consideration will be given to nominations with a demonstrable impact on reducing mental health disparities on the college campus. 

Self-nominations are welcome, as are nominations from faculty, staff, and students. Nominations should include the nominee’s current job responsibilities and how their efforts to support mental health go above and beyond these duties and may include photographs, videos, flyers, or any other materials that showcase the implementation and impact of the initiative. Nominations are limited to two pages plus two letters of support.

One recipient will be selected each year and receive a $500 award. This award is funded through the generosity of TimelyCare.

The Council of Senior Student Affairs Officers John Graham Award for Mentorship recognizes the impact that mentors and mentorship can have on those who enter the student affairs profession. Each year one professional from a SUNY state-operated campus will be selected for this prestigious recognition, named for Dr. John L. Graham, who tragically passed away in 2021 after serving as SUNY’s first Student Advocate and as Officer-in-Charge at SUNY Potsdam. 

Throughout his career, Dr. Graham brought creativity and innovative approaches to his work with great caring and empathy. Firmly believing in the personification of hard work, good luck, and perseverance, Dr. Graham believed in the ‘care gene’, actively seeking out colleagues at the junior and senior level to mentor to become better and more seasoned professionals focused on making the community around them, and the broader world, a better place. He leaves behind a legacy of individuals whose work was made better by his influence. 

 This special award given in Dr. Graham’s honor is designed to recognize student affairs who serve as mentors and advisors to others; demonstrate a sustained commitment to the intellectual, professional, and holistic development of others; encourage others to pursue meaningful professional and personal goals and opportunities; and who use their influence to help others to change their community and the broader world for the better. 

 To be selected for this honor, the professional must have served in a student affairs role for no less than eight years, have embodied the NASPA Pillars of Integrity, Inclusion, Innovation, and Inquiry defined above, and have a demonstrated record of mentorship.  

 Self-nominations are welcome, as are nominations from all others in Student Affairs.  Nominations should include examples of how the individual has demonstrated the above pillars and speak to their contribution to the profession as a professional and mentor. Nominations are limited to two pages plus two letters of support from mentees or colleagues who can attest to a record of mentorship.

The Council of Senior Student Affairs Officers Robert A. (Bob) Bonfiglio Award annually recognizes the impact that new professionals in Student Affairs have upon the student affairs profession and our State University of New York colleges and universities. Each year, up to three new professionals from SUNY state-operated campuses will be selected as winners of this recognition. 

To be selected for this honor, the professional must have served in a student affairs role for less than four years (graduate students who are working in a professional role on a campus are also eligible) and must show excellence in at least one of the following categories (which are aligned with the NASPA Pillars requirements): Integrity, Inclusion, Innovation, and Inquiry, as well as a fifth category of Impact (described below). 

· Integrity: Committed to high moral principles exhibiting authentic, honest, just and ethical behavior.

· Innovation: Continuously seeking improvement through new and creative approaches. 

· Inclusion: Seeking ways to ensure access, voice, acknowledgement, opportunity and participation at all levels. 

· Inquiry: Supporting research and scholarship to add to the knowledge base of the profession and ensure that data informs practice. 

· Impact: Supporting the mission of their campus and the State University of New York through service to the campus, or representing the campus on a regional or national level. 

In addition to a plaque, the awardee will receive up to $2,000 to attend a Student Affairs professional development conference of their choosing anytime in the next two years.

Nominations should be submitted by someone in the individual’s current line of supervision. Nominations should include examples of how the individual has demonstrated the above pillars and speak to the potential for future contributions to the profession. Nominations are limited to two pages plus two letters of support.