Awards

Hurculine Guthrie Commitment to Social Justice Award

Hurculine Guthrie, a distinguished alumni, worked for many years at Buffalo State in student affairs. She earned a SPA degree while raising a family and working full time. She was an EOP student and became a role model for minority and other students.  

Honorees are selected based on demonstration of:

• Commitment to enhancing personal awareness and consciousness of social justice issues
• Engagement in efforts or initiative to further facilitate and develop socially just and inclusive communities
• Commitment to raising other’s awareness and consciousness of social justice issues in and out of the classroom

Al Ciardi Excellence in Collaboration Award

This award presented in memory of Al Ciardi who passed away shortly after graduating from our program recognizes an individual who demonstrates the HESAA value of collaboration as exemplified in:

• Effectively establishes collaborative working relationships within the classroom and beyond
• Building partnerships and relationships across organizations to enhance success
• Soliciting diverse views and perspectives in completion of projects or tasks

Althea Jones-Johnson Award for Authenticity

This award presented in loving memory of Althea Jones-Johnson who passed away shortly after graduating from our program honors a HESAA student(s) who consistently demonstrates an understanding of, and commitment to their personal values and sense of self.  

The honoree exemplifies:

• Positive character empowered through the consistency of their words and actions (walk the talk)
• Self-awareness, thoughtful and conscious of the impact of their thought and actions on others
• Openness to learning from their mistakes, to new opportunities, to new ideas and to people

The Reflective Practitioner Award

Recognizes a HESAA student(s) who exemplifies the values of the profession and the program through their individual demonstration of reflection, both in and on their practice.  

The honoree exemplifies:

• Demonstration of personal growth through reflective practice
• Demonstration of professional growth and improvement through reflection on professional experiences.

Michael J. Small Leadership & Service Award

Michael J. Small Leadership & Service Award recognizes a graduating student who exemplifies the qualities of leadership and service:

• Leadership on a campus, within student organizations or professional associations
• Commitment to service through volunteer roles or projects on a campus or within the community

Michael J. Small Leadership & Service Award

Outstanding Performance in a Research Project

This award recognizes a student or students who have demonstrated exceptional skills and competency within the form of an Independent Study, Masters Project, or Master’s Thesis. Recipients are selected based on student performance in a research project or internship experience.

Outstanding Internship Award* 

This award recognizes a student who exceeds expectations throughout their internship experience. 

The award is presented based on the quality of the projects/programs completed through the internship and the evaluation of the internship supervisor.  
Awards are presented in collaboration with the Career Development Center who recognizes an outstanding intern from each academic department.

*This award is specific to “Internship” experiences and does not include Graduate Assistantships or fulltime professional experience, as categorized as supervised experience.