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NCSL Recognizes Outstanding Legislative Staff
"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! I encourage you to take a moment to nominate that very special peer from your office or professional staff association for recognition."
—NCSL Staff Chair Martha Wigton, Georgia
Call for Nominations
Do you know a colleague who deserves recognition for outstanding work with the NCSL Standing Committees? Please let us know! NCSL is accepting nominations for the 2021 Legislative Staff Achievement Award, created by the NCSL Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee in 1997. The award is designed to recognize those who demonstrate excellence in supporting the work of a state legislature and strengthening the legislative institution.
NCSL will announce the recipients of the 2021 Legislative Staff Achievement Awards this summer. Honorees will be recognized at the NCSL "Salute to Legislative Staff" event during NCSL Base Camp 2021 (Aug. 3-5, 2021).
All staff members of standing committees are eligible and nominations may be submitted by the nominee or by other standing committee members. The overall co-chairs of the standing committees, will review the nominations and select the winner(s), who will be notified in early June. Please submit an email describing how the nominee meets one or more of the criteria to Molly Ramsdell by May 14.
Nominations can also be mailed to Molly Ramsdell at NCSL, 444 N. Capitol St., NW, Suite 515, Washington, D.C., 20001. Please feel free to call 202-413-1379 with any questions.
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.
Past Recipients
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