2026 NYSCSS Award Nomination Procedures

Step One:  Nominations may be made by an individual or by an organization such as a local council or school.

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Requirements:  Nominees must be an active (i.e., paid, no balance due) member of NYSCSS for a period of one                              year prior to the opening of the nomination period.  For example, the nomination period opens on November 10, 2025 for the March 2026 Awards.  Nominees are eligible for consideration if they have been active members as of November 10, 2024.  

Membership status will be checked at this step in the process. 

                                                 Step One Nominations are due December 12, 2025. 

Step Two:  Eligible nominees will be contacted by Laura Mecca-Retzlaff, Chair of the NYSCSS Awards Committee and invited to complete the Nomination Information Form. 

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                                                 Deadline extended -- Step Two Nomination Forms are due January 15, 2026

Nominees will be evaluated based on the completion of Step Two Nomination Form, their resume, a 250-500 word rationale explaining why they should be considered for this award, and at least one professional reference or letter of support.  

Awards Procedures: 

• A recent photograph of the candidate should be available to send via e-mail if the candidate is selected as an awards recipient. Award winners’ photographs will appear in the Convention and Awards Ceremony Program.

• The Awards Committee will make its recommendations to the Board of Directors of NYSCSS. The Board of Directors is responsible for finalizing the decision of the winner of each award.

• The award winners will receive public recognition at an Awards Ceremony that will take place during the NYSCSS annual convention. They will be guests of NYSCSS at the Awards Ceremony and receive a plaque. In addition, award winners will receive a workshop session during the convention to share their award-winning practice with our members.

• Previous award winners are ineligible for consideration in the award category for which they were previously honored.

• Previous nominees who did not win in the previous year are eligible for consideration for this year’s awards. Nominations need to be updated.

• It is the responsibility of the nominator to inform the award candidate if his or her nomination needs to be updated.

Questions? Contact Laura Mecca-Retzlaff at awards@nyscss.org.