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About the Award

Legislative Staff Achievement Awards are the highest national honor given to legislative staff. Especially in this highly unusual time, when we are all witness to legislative staff rising to the challenges of a new world by applying their professional expertise and/or leadership. The formal acknowledgment of their impact on public service should be shared and celebrated! Take a moment to nominate that very special peer from your office or professional staff association for recognition.

Award Criteria

  • Exemplary service to the NCSL Standing Committees.
  • Demonstrates expertise in a particular field and contributes to existing knowledge.
  • Exhibits a high degree of professionalism, competence and integrity in serving the legislature and the public.
  • Supports the legislative process and the mission of the legislature.
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Previous Recipients

2023

  • Steven Hernández, Esq., executive director, The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity, Connecticut General Assembly
  • Andrea Wilko, chief economist, Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst, Utah Legislature

2022

  • Drew Murray, senior legislative analyst, Louisiana House of Representatives
  • Eric Nauman, principal fiscal analyst, Minnesota Senate Counsel, Research, and Fiscal Analysis

2021

  • Monique Appeaning, legislative fiscal analyst and special projects coordinator, Legislative Fiscal Office, Louisiana
  • Tara Bookholdt, senior budget and policy analyst, House Budget and Research Office, Georgia

2020

  • James F. “Ted” Booth, general counsel, Mississippi Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER)
  • Michelle Davis, senior policy analyst, Maryland Department
  • Frank Strigari, chief legal counsel, Ohio Senate
  • Jeffrey M. Wice, special counsel, New York Assembly of Legislative Services

2019

  • Lonnie A. Edgar, Jr., principal analyst, Mississippi Joint Legislative PEER Committee
  • Jonathan Ball, director, Legislative Fiscal Analyst Office, Utah

2018

  • Rachel Gudgel, director, Legislative Education Study Committee, New Mexico
  • Julie Pelegrin, deputy director, Office of Legislative Legal Services, Colorado

2017

  • Stephanie Barrett, associate fiscal office, Legislative Joint Fiscal Office, Vermont
  • Ken Levine, director, Texas Sunset Commission

2016

  • Martha Carter, legislative auditor, Nebraska Legislature
  • Kathy Schill, fiscal analyst, Department of Fiscal Analysis, Minnesota House of Representatives

2015

  • Mary Quaid, executive director, House Legislative Services, Louisiana Legislature
  • Roderick N. Welsh, sergeant at arms, Texas House of Representatives

2014

  • Jennifer Jones, Deputy Director, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Legislature
  • John Snyder, Committee Administrator, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky General Assembly

2013

  • Marion Higa, state auditor, Hawaii Office of the Auditor (Retired)
  • Holly Lyons, fiscal services division director, Legislative Services Agency, Iowa General Assembly

2012

  • Melissa Calderwood, principal analyst, Legislative Research Department, Kansas Legislature
  • Karl Aro, executive director, Department of Legislative Services, Maryland General Assembly

2011

  • Cheryl Reinhart, staff attorney, Arkansas General Assembly
  • Miriam A. Fordham, legislative committee analyst, Health and Welfare Committee, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky
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Legislative Staff

No matter what your job entails, if you are a legislative staffer, NCSL is your resource on legislative issues, one-stop shop for professional development and connection to legislative staffers around the country.
Legislative Staff