Awards

OASFAA New Professional Award

The OASFAA New Professional Award was established in the 2022-23 year to recognize the outstanding contributions of financial aid professionals early in their careers. Nominees must be members of OASFAA and must have five years of financial aid experience or less. To nominate an OASFAA member, submit the nomination form by the posted deadline. Nominations should include statements about the nominee’s contributions to the institution/workplace, community, and/or OASFAA with potential for continued success in the profession. Self-nominations will be accepted. Final selection is made by the review panel, consisting of the current OASFAA President, President-Elect, and Past-President. The award will be bestowed at the annual OASFAA Conference.

2024 - Taylor Rutter, Ohio University 
2023
- Chenoa Frazier, Walsh University

Alex Murdoch Service Award

The Alex Murdoch Service Award was established in 1999 to honor Alex, Associate Director of Financial Aid at University of Cincinnati, when he retired that year. The honor, first announced at Winter Conference 1999 as a tribute to Alex, is awarded annually to a member of OASFAA who has given outstanding service to OASFAA and its members. The recipient's convictions and loyalty to OASFAA, have made it a better organization through their efforts and many contributions.

2024 - Kim Jenerette, Cedarville University 
2023
- Jayme Jarrett, Ohio Northern University
2022
- MorraLee Keller, National College Access Network 
2021
 - Faith Phillips, Central Ohio Technical College/Ohio State Newark
2020
 - Mary Reshad, Wright State University
2018
- Carrie Short, University of Akron
2016 - Andrea Morrow, Owens Community College
2015 - Randy Ulses, University of Cincinnati
2014 - John W. Brown, Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation
2013 - Mary Lynn Perri, Ursuline College
2012 - Angela Johnson, Cuyahoga Community College
2011 - Mary Kay Freshour, Otterbein University
2010 - Betsy Johnson, Owens Community College
2009 - Ted Hallenbeck, National City/PNC
2008 - Suzanne Fahrer, BGSU
2007 - Melony Ohalek, Sallie Mae Graduate & Professional Programs 
2006 - Joan Dornette, Good Samaritan College of Nursing 
2005 - Barbara Hughes, Baldwin-Wallace College
2004 - Doris I. Smith, North Central State College
2003 - Claudia Wenzel, John Carroll University
2002 - Cheryl Willard, Baldwin-Wallace College
2001 - Connie Williams, University of Cincinnati
2000 - Lawrence Matthews, Bluffton College

Distinguished Service Award


The Distinguished Service Award was created in 1985. The award is reserved for an OASFAA member who has provided devoted and unselfish service in furthering the progress, aims and ideals of OASFAA , MASFAA and NASFAA supporting the entire financial aid community.

2024 - MorraLee Keller, NCAN 
2014
 - Jamie Malone, Great Lakes Higher Education
2006 - Tally K. Hart, The Ohio State University
1985 - Marc L. Brenner, Ohio Diesel Technical Institute

James W. White Award


The James W. White Award honors James White, Director of Financial Aid at Oberlin College, when he retired in 1990. The award, first presented at Spring Conference 1991, is given annually to a member of OASFAA who exemplifies the dedication to students, to the aid community, and to the recipient's local community-qualities that were so evident in Jim's career as a financial aid professional.

2024 - Scott Lehman, Stark State College
2023
- Tamika Braswell, Ohio Department of Higher Education
2022
- Andrea Morrow, Owens Community College
2021
 - Matt Moore, Sinclair Community College
2020
 - Venus Puliafico, Case Western Reserve University
2018 - Betsy Johnson, Bowling Green State University
2017 - Angela K. Johnson, Cuyahoga Community College
2016 - Faith Phillips, Central Ohio Technical College & OSU Newark
2015 - James McDougal, Kemba Financial Credit Union
2014 - Cheryl Willard, Baldwin Wallace University
2013 - Jeff Johnston, Sallie Mae
2012 - Bev Dalheim, Lakeland Community College
2011 - Mary ArterBell, US Bank
2010 - Roger Eldridge, Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation
2009 - Stephanie Sutton, Lorain Community College
2008 - Gary Ulrich, Owens Community College-Findlay Campus
2007 - Debra Lee Divers, BGSU Firelands
2006 - Geraldine Parker-Thrower, Lakeland Community College
2005 - Gregory A. Guzmán, Lourdes College
2004 - Lawrence Matthews, Bluffton University
2003 - MorraLee Holzapfel, I Know I Can
2002 - Steve England, AES/PHEAA
2001 - Jerome Weiskittle, Franciscan University of Steubenville
2000 - Donald Chenelle, Case Western Reserve University
1999 - Arman Habegger, University of Findlay
1998 - Lisa K. Mitchell, Student Loan Funding
1997 - Ginny Biada, Baldwin-Wallace College
1996 - Alex Murdoch, University of Cincinnati
1995 - Wendell Schick, Ohio Northern University
1994 - Clark Reber, Lourdes College
1993 - Michele Nemes Meeker, The Ohio State University
1992 - William Bennett, Cleveland State University
1991 - Robert Hahn, University of Akron

Support Professional Award


The Support Professional Award, initiated in 1990, recognizes an individual or team of support/clerical professionals reporting to an OASFAA member. Nominations are submitted to the Support Professional Committee and the award is made at Spring Conference. The recipient exemplifies a strong commitment to the student, institution for which they work, and the financial aid profession.

Due to the changing landscape of financial aid office staffing, the Support Professional Award has been discontinued.

2017 - Melody Whitlock – University of Cincinnati
2016 - Lisa Jackson, Kent State - Ashtabula
2015 - Renee Hales, Oberlin College
2014 - Christa McNichols, Mt Vernon Nazarene University
2013 - Dawn Langdon, Stark State College
2012 - Marion Carter, The Ohio State University
2011 - Christina Emerson, Case Western Reserve University
2010 - Debra Clark, Central Ohio Technical College
2009 - Jennifer Healey, University of Dayton
2008 - Kim Kuhajda, Baldwin-Wallace College
2007 - Jenny Rumpler and Pat Tobis, Miami University
2006 - Tracy Febel, Lakeland Community College
2005 - Ann Cano (University of Dayton) Southwest Region
2004 - Janet Crawford, Lee Ann Timmerman, Sherry Benjamin, Kathy Sybert
                (Ohio Northern University) Northwest Region
2003 - Dottie Chapman (Bluffton College) Northwest Region
2002 - Tenley Peterson (University of Toledo) Northwest Region
2001 - Annie Johnson (Ohio State University) Southeast Region
2000 - Shannon Maag (Lima Technical College) Northwest Region
1999 - Darlene Burns (Walsh University) Northeast Region
1998 - Stephanie Medley (Belmont Technical College) Southeast Region
          Bea Pettaway (Medical College of Ohio) Northwest Region
          Sandy Vilkowski (Miami University) Southwest Region
1997 - Laura Witt (NE Ohio College of Medicine) Northeast Region
          JoAnn Evans, Kathy Stripling, Carrie Lemle, Kevin Paskvan
                (Owens Community College) Northwest Region
          Lola Hauss (Capital University) Southeast Region
          Debbie Back, Linda Will, Marcia Mitchell, Anthony Boniella,
          Evelyn Harris, Patricia Rakestraw, Candace McGowan,
          Rodney Gross, Cheryl Griffin-Daugherty, Robin McLemore, Rutha Lacking
               (Sinclair Community College) Southwest Region
1996 - Andrea Hines (Oberlin College) Northeast Region
          Barb Noonan and Kent McKenzie (University of Toledo) Northwest Region
          Barbara Birk (Capital University) Southeast Region
          Kathi Richards (Edison Community College) Southwest Region
1995 - Judy Cook (University of Findlay) Northwest Region
1994 - Melissa Chandler (Lakeland Community College) Northeast Region
1993 - Carol Benedum, Meilani Cook, Marge Smith
          (Stark Technical College) Northeast Region
1992 - Janet Crawford (Ohio Northern University) Northwest Region
          Becky Heaton (Mount Vernon Nazarene) Southeast Region
1991 - Sandy Miller (Ohio University) Southeast Region
1990 - Ruth Murphy (Marietta College) Southeast Region

Alan M. Donley Chair in Need Analysis – Recognition Highlights

2018 - Leigh Jackson, University of Cincinnati
2015 - Stacey Black, Cuyahoga Community College - Eastern Campus
2014 - Erika L. Walker-Smith, Baldwin Wallace University
2013 - Venus Puliafico, Case Western Reserve Univeristy
2012 - Kevin Lamb, Marietta College
2011 - Carolyn McCluskey, Baldwin Wallace College
2010 - Jonathan Green, Wittenberg University
2009 - James Engler, Franklin University
2008 - Greg Carlo, Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation
2007 - Pamela Hughes, Ohio Northern University 
2006 - Carmen Sears-Edwards, Citibank
2005 - Kim Nash-Yore, Cuyahoga Community College
2004 - Scott Lehman, Hiram College

State Leadership Award


The State Leadership Award is presented annually to recognize the outstanding leadership of a member from each of the 9 states within MASFAA. The recipients, who must be current MASFAA members, must have made outstanding contributions to the financial aid profession at the state and regional levels over a sustained period of time, i.e., seven years or more. Leadership at the regional level is not the only criterion for this award, and the selection process will not be limited to current state elected leaders. The individuals selected for this award must: exhibit high integrity and character; have shown creative leadership; have inspired and encouraged others to participate actively in professional development activities; have sustained active involvement in professional organizations, and have supported the goals and objectives of MASFAA.

2023 - Carrie Short, Lakeland Community College
2022
- Melanie Weaver, Ohio Northern University
2021
 - Melissa Van Meter, Ohio University 
2019 - Betsy Johnson, Bowling Green State University
2018 - Jayme Jarrett, Ohio Northern University
2017 - Erica Henry, University of Cincinnati
2016 - Emily Haynam, The Ohio State University
2015 - Alicia Frey, Belmont College
2014 - Angela K. Johnson, Cuyahoga Community College
2013 - Randy Ulses, University of Cincinnati
2012 - Val Kepner, Oberlin College
2011 - Ann Marie Gruber, Lakeland Community College
2010 - Arman Habegger, University of Findlay
2009 - Karen Kopp, Cuyahoga Community College - Cleveland
2008 - Cheryl Willard, Baldwin-Wallace College
2007 - Michiale M Schneider, Student Loan Xpress
2006 - Ginny Biada, Xpress Loan Servicing

Lifetime Membership

Lifetime Membership to OASFAA is limited to those individuals who served the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and the financial aid profession with distinction for a significant period of time. This honor is intended to recognize a member at the end of a career devoted to the administration of student financial aid. Lifetime members are non-voting members of the association. To be considered for Lifetime Membership, an individual must be nominated by a current member of the association. The Association Governance and Planning Committee is responsible for gathering information on the nominee's contributions and presenting their findings to the Trustees. Lifetime Membership will be confirmed by a majority vote of the Trustees.

Ginny Biada - Baldwin Wallace University
Don Chenelle - Case Western University
Rodney Harrison - The Ohio State University
Ronald J. (Jack) Hinz - University of Cincinnati
Alex Murdoch - University of Cincinnati
James White - Oberlin College