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Related Topic: Legislative Staff

2023 Call for Nominations

The NCSL Leadership Staff Professional Association (LSPA) invites your nominations for the 2023 Legislative Staff Achievement Award. Up to two legislative staff members are recognized each year for the important contributions they make to the legislative institution and process. Nominations can be made by state legislators or legislative staff. Recipients will receive a plaque and be honored at the Salute to Legislative Staff session at the annual LSPA Business Meeting and the 2023 NCSL Legislative Summit.

Nomination Form

Please send any questions, or if you want to make your nomination in hard copy, to lspa-info@ncsl.org.

Award Criteria

A Legislative Staff Achievement Award nominee may be an individual, office, group or team whose contributions benefit the roles of leadership, personal and caucus, and should meet a significant number of the following criteria. At least one of the awards is presented to an individual who has been an active participant in Leadership Staff Professional Association activities, as evidenced by attendance at the Association's annual training seminars, and by other significant involvement with the Association.

Other examples include:

  1. Identified differences and used them positively to benefit our organization, and ultimately our roles in individual states.
  2. Identified significant areas within which we can learn from one another.
  3. Outstanding credibility and genuine interest in networking ideas.
  4. Common understanding necessary for inclusive contributions and acceptance of Leadership Staff Professional Association participants.
  5. Effectiveness in giving...self, time, resources, etc...to benefit our Association.
  6. Insights that can be developed through teamwork (ability to objectively process knowledge/patterns for contriving options for avoidance of common obstacles).
  7. Determined toward efficiency and betterment of professional selves or members; shares "best game" strategies.
  8. Promotes benefits gained from Leadership Staff Professional Association.
  9. Develops solution(s) for various subterfuges; emanating realistic expectations versus frustrations - for example, "New Dimensions for Change" ideas.
  10. Improved communication and/or participation in Leadership Staff Association.

2022 Award Recipient(s)
  • Aaron Goulette, New Hampshire House of Representatives
  • Jake Smeltz, Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Previous Award Recipients

2021

  • Dan Greer, West Virginia House of Delegates
  • Sherry McCoy, California Senate

2020

  • Mechelle Evans, Louisiana House
  • Branden Pursinger, Oregon Senate

2019

  • Christie Getto Young, Massachusetts Senate
  • Aurora Hauke, Alaska House

2018

  • Sheron Violini, California Senate

2017

  • Tom Krause, Georgia Senate

2016

  • Charity Stowe, Indiana House

2015

  • Naomi Miller, Texas House
  • Jen Jankowski, Utah House

2014

  • Sallie Bolton, Kentucky House
  • Tom Wright, Alaska House

2013

  • Janeen Halverson, Utah Senate
  • Aurora Hauke, Alaska House

2012

  • Terri Franks-Smith, Idaho House
  • Arnold Sowell, California Assembly

2011

  • Mechelle Miller, Louisiana House

2010

  • Mary Sue Jones, Idaho Senate

2009

  • Erlinda Campbell, New Mexico Senate
  • Barbara Oakes, Maryland House

2008

  • Nancy Butcher, West Virginia House

2007

  • Rosina Boyd, New Mexico House
  • Kurt Deweese, Illinois House

2006

  • James Lovette, Pennsylvania House
  • Dawn Reese, Pennsylvania House

2005

  • Laura Bauman, Indiana Senate
  • Erin Russell, Nevada Assembly

2004

  • Diane Steward, Maine Senate

2003

  • Joyce Johnson, Tennessee Senate
  • John Mullins, West Virginia House

2002

  • Lori Rigby, Delaware House
  • Meredith Norris, North Carolina House

2001

  • Mechelle Miller, Louisiana House
  • Charlotte Ellis Land, Kentucky House

2000

  • Marsha Wise, Pennsylvania House
  • Kathy Holcomb, Michigan House

1999

  • C. Louise Krautheim, Pennsylvania House
  • Jenifer Noland, Kentucky House

1998

  • David W. Wilkins, Delaware Senate
  • Jan Shirrell, Indiana Senate

1997

  • Thomas R. Tedcastle, Florida House
  • Toni Christman, Pennsylvania House
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Related Resources

Annual NCSL Legislative Staff Awards

Each year NCSL and the professional staff associations recognize individuals, offices and agencies who support and further the work and mission of legislative institutions across the nation.