By Bill DeBaun, Senior Director, Data and Strategic Initiatives
Reading time: Four minutes
Three individuals and organizations became etched forever in the annals of college access and attainment history when the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) awarded our annual NCAN Awards of Excellence at our 2024 National Conference, which took place September 16-18 in Anaheim, CA.
These awards celebrate and recognize excellence among college attainment professionals, organizations, and partners as shown by successful student outcomes. Award winners are selected based on demonstrated evidence of student success outcomes, biographies
of nominees, nomination letters, and letters of recommendation.
Member of the Year
Gary Z. Linnen accepted the Member of the Year award on behalf of PeerForward. The “Member of the Year” Award of Excellence recognizes the work of an NCAN member organization,
school, college, or university to fulfill NCAN's mission of building, strengthening, and empowering communities and stakeholders to close equity gaps in postsecondary attainment for all students.
PeerForward began as an essay writing workshop with four students in a basement in Washington, DC in 1996 has grown to be a vast network of students, in 12 states and Bermuda, empowering each other to get to and through college. It was in that basement
that the fundamental idea behind this organization was born: when you train students to help each other, not even the sky’s the limit.
Since its inception, this organization has guided more than 600,000 students on their postsecondary journey. It has proven itself to be a critical member of the ecosystem of organizations working to advance opportunities for students in low-income neighborhoods,
having directly assisted students, built school partner capacity, promoted policies to remove barriers for its students, and demonstrated the power of peer-to-peer methods throughout its tenure. These methods were found to not only be effective but
essential for creating and sustaining a culture where everyone is expected to succeed in higher education.
Dr. David B Swedlow Professional of the Year
John Johnson, Director of Postsecondary and Alumni Affairs at University Prep Schools in Detroit, MI received the Dr. David B. Swetlow Professional of the Year award. This award recognizes
the dedication, hard work, and innovation of an individual working at an NCAN member organization. Professionals at any level are eligible for this award, including advisors, counselors, program managers, and CEOs. This award was named in memory of
former NCAN Director of Programs, Dr. David B. Swedlow, in honor of his commitment to college access and attainment.
Johnson has proven himself a pioneering college attainment leader and a champion for Detroit area students. As part of his commitment to creating partnerships and harnessing opportunities for his students, he has reached across state lines and collaborated
with Bowling Green State University in Ohio to create Impact Academy, a summer enrichment program for 10th and 11th grade students that gives students a chance to experience college for a week on a college campus.
A dual enrollment advocate, Johnson opened an early college program in partnership with Lawrence Tech University, giving students access to both a high school diploma and an associate's degree upon graduation. During his tenure at his organization, earned
dual enrollment credits have increased from 27 credits in 2019 to 327 credits in 2023.
To address a statewide teacher shortage, Johnson established a partnership with Wayne State University, not only furthering his organization’s dual enrollment initiatives, but also helping students gain internship experience as a teacher assistant and
a teaching mentor to guide them in their exploration in the field.
Partner of the Year
Rutgers University – Newark was named the Partner of the Year. The award was accepted by the University’s Senior Vice Chancellor, Dr. John Gunkel. The award recognizes any
partner entity that collaborates with an NCAN member organization to ensure that the organization’s students get the support they need to access and attain a postsecondary education.
Rutgers University – Newark’s reach can be felt not only in the institution’s local community in New Jersey, but statewide and across the country. Comprised of more than 13,000 students studying in six colleges and schools, this university has worked
tirelessly to provide top-notch wraparound services for first-generation students, English language learners, commuter students, and students of varied racial and ethnic backgrounds.
A proud Hispanic serving institution, as designated by the US Department of Education in 2016, this year’s winner boasts a 34% Latino/a student population. The University has worked relentlessly to improve outcomes for Latino students, securing a partnership
with the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, and earning a US Department of State designation as a Fulbright Hispanic Serving Institution Leader.
Understanding that education and entrepreneurship can be not only linked but integrated, the University strives for equitable growth through the Center for Urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development (CUEED) which was created as the first center of
its kind in the nation to integrate scholarly works with private capital, government, and non-profit sectors to develop citywide resources and bring renewed economic growth and vitality through urban entrepreneurship.
In addition to being honored at the college access and attainment field’s premiere national gathering, award winners will be compensated as follows:
Professional of the Year: $1,000
Member of the Year: $5,000
Partner of the Year: Free NCAN membership for Fiscal Year 2025-26
NCAN congratulate our winners and looks forward to their continued leadership and success in the field. Stay tuned next spring for information on how to nominate Award of Excellence winners for 2025, who will be announced at NCAN’s 30th Anniversary
National Conference in New Orleans, LA.
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