William M. Burke Presidential Award for Excellence in Experiential Education

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NSEE Awards of Excellence

One of the highlights of the annual conference is our awards luncheon, where we honor individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to NSEE and to the field of experiential education.  We encourage you to nominate your partners and colleagues for the awards. Click here to download the Awards Nominations form or click here to complete the online nomination form.  There are eight awards, the criteria is below (or download the criteria document:

Outstanding Experiential Education Program

Recognizes an outstanding K-12 or higher education institution that has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to experiential education in their classrooms or on their campuses.  Nomination criteria include:

• Goals and objectives of EE program consistent with NSEE and best practices
• Innovation  in the design, implementation and evaluation of the EE program
• Outreach level and the depth and breadth of program impact

Outstanding Leader in Experiential Education: Higher Education Award

Recognizes an individualwho has demonstrated innovative uses of experiential learning in their institution.  Nomination criteria include:

• Employed by a 2 or 4-year degree granting institution
• Leadership role in crossing boundaries between traditional academic and experiential education
• Leadership role in design, development, and implementation of EE programs connecting the classroom curriculum and campus/community based organizations
• Leadership/participation in national/regional conference sessions and/or publications contributing to EE
• Leadership in serving as a role model/mentor to newcomers and rising leaders in EE

Outstanding Leader in Experiential Education:  K-12 Award

Recognized a K-12 teacher, principal, or superintendent who has demonstrated innovative uses of experiential learning in their classroom and in their school system. Nomination criteria include:

• Employed by a K-12 school or school district
• Leadership role in crossing boundaries between K-12 public/private education and experiential education
• Leadership role in the development and implementation of substantive ongoing experiential programs which are student centered
• Promoted experiential education at K-12 level work, so that others have benefited from their programs

Outstanding Experiential Education Rising Leader

Recognizes an individual who has joined the organization within the past five years and is already making outstanding contributions to the field.  Nomination criteria include:

• Conference participation/presentation
• Research/publications
• Field based projects

Outstanding Experiential Education Research

Recognizes an individual who has published research within the past 2 years that makes important contributions to our understanding of experiential education.  Nomination criteria include:

• Publication of research about experiential education within two years of the award
• Research makes important contributions to an area of experiential education that is valuable to NSEE members

Dissertation of the Year Award

Recognizes an individual who has completed a doctoral dissertation that makes important contributions to our understanding of experiential education.  Nomination criteria include: 

• Completion of doctoral dissertation about experiential education
• Doctoral dissertation makes important contributions to an area of experiential education that is valuable to NSEE members

Outstanding Leader in Experiential Education: Community-Based Organization

Recognizes a community-based organization or nonprofit that has made outstanding contributions to the field.  Nomination criteria include:

• Leadership role in the design, development, and implementation of EE programs impacting a variety of communities
• Leadership role in advocacy of EE programs in the community involving individuals/groups from diverse groups, i.e. education, local/state governments, private non-profits
• Service within NSEE to share and promote model program

Outstanding Leader in Experiential Education: Corporate or Foundation

Recognizes a business or corporation that has demonstrated outstanding support of experiential education through its financial or volunteer commitment to the field.  Nomination criteria include:

• Continuity of the program: The corporate/foundation leader has an established experiential education program where top management’s commitment is evident through the organization’s continuing goodwill efforts toward the EE program
• Corporate/foundation leader must have demonstrated commitment to advancing EE as outlined in the nomination
• Employer/corporate/foundation leader endeavors to provide quality work experience for students by taking an active role in the orientation of new students/interns/co-op; handling of student logistics; planning and development of EE assignments; and training of EE supervisors