Awards Program Overview

The J. Jeffery Auer Award is named after distinguished scholar J. Jeffery Auer and is presented to the author(s) of the Top Graduate Student Paper submitted to the Political Communication Interest Group. At the annual convention, the recipient(s) receive a cash award of up to $100 and a certificate.

The recipient of the Auer Award is recognized at the Political Communication Interest Group business meeting.

For more information, contact the officers of the Political Communication Interest Group.

Past recipients are:

The Braithwaite Award for Qualitative Research is named after beloved CSCA member Dr. Dawn O. Braithwaite who was and is a pioneer for interpersonal qualitative research studies. It is presented to the top paper in the Interpersonal and Family Communication Interest Group that exclusively uses qualitative methods and that did not receive the top paper or top student paper award. At the annual convention, the recipient receives a cash award and a certificate. The recipient of the Braithwaite Award is recognized at the Interpersonal and Family Communication Interest Group business meeting.

For more information, contact the officers of the Interpersonal and Family Communication Interest Group. 

The James W. Chesebro Award for Scholarly Distinction in Sexuality Research is named after beloved CSCA member and LGBT studies pioneer Jim Chesebro. It is presented to an outstanding scholar from across the nation who has made a clear and viable contribution to the study of gender, sexuality, or sexual identity. At the annual convention, the recipient receives a cash award and a trophy. Although a national award, the recipient is recognized at the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Caucus business meeting at each year's CSCA.

For more information, contact the officers of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Caucus.

The prestigious Cooper Award is named after former CSCA President Pamela J. Cooper and is
presented to one M.A. level graduate teaching assistant and one Ph.D. level graduate teaching
assistant in recognition of excellent teaching by a graduate student. At the annual convention, the
recipients receive a $50 cash award and a certificate.
To be considered for the Cooper Award, nominees must submit materials electronically (not to
exceed 12 pages, excluding cover page, index page, and/or divider pages) which must be the
original work of the graduate teaching assistant. The electronic packet must include (1) no more
than two letters of nomination/support; (2) a one to two-page statement of the nominee's teaching
philosophy; (3) a description of the nominee's teaching experiences including courses taught and
course responsibilities; (4) evidence of the nominee's teaching effectiveness, including
summaries of teaching evaluations and/or peer/ supervisor evaluations; and (5) teaching
materials including syllabi, assignment sheets, handouts, and web pages.
Only two candidates can be nominated by one department. Students who were graduate teaching
assistants during the past academic year as well as current M.A. and Ph.D. students are eligible.
Graduate teaching assistants at colleges and universities in the CSCA region are eligible. In
addition, graduate teaching assistants advised by faculty outside of the CSCA region are also
eligible, but they, their nominating faculty, or department should be CSCA members. Per
association bylaws, all recipients must be CSCA members at the time of the nomination. Cooper
Award winners are also expected to attend the 2019 conference in Omaha, NE to receive their
award. The recipients of the Cooper Award are recognized at the Hall of Fame Awards
Luncheon and Business Meeting.

All materials must be submitted electronically by December 15, 2018. Please reference the
Cooper Award in the subject line. When the materials are received, you will receive a
confirmation email indicating that your submission is under review. Please submit all application
materials in a single PDF to:

Stephanie Rollie Rodriguez
Cooper Award Committee Chair
Department of Communication and Media
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
stephanie.rodriguez@tamucc.edu
Chair: Stephanie Rollie Rodriguez, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi,
stephanie.rodriguez@tamucc.edu

Past recipients include the following:

Proposals for the 2019 Federation Prize is open.

The Federation Prize promotes intellectual development and communication scholarship by awarding a cash prize of (up to) $5000 to selected research proposals authored by a CSCA member. If there are multiple submitters on a proposal, all authors must be CSCA members. Proposals are evaluated by a selection committee of scholars representing diverse interests in communication and various methods of inquiry. The recipient is expected to provide a presentation of the research project in a special panel at the CSCA convention the year following the award presentation.

To be considered for the Federation Prize, applicants must submit a proposal. The proposal must include the following items:

• A one-page title sheet, including the applicant's name and contact information (name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address), the title of project, and a 200-word abstract. If there are multiple submitters, please list all of their names and contact information.
• A single-spaced, three-page description of the project, including objectives, methods, a proposed timetable, qualifications of the applicant(s) to complete the project, and a rationale describing why the project merits CSCA funding.
• A one-page budget, including the amount of money requested (up to $5000) and how the money will be spent. 
• A brief (two-page) curriculum vita for each applicant.
• Names and contact information of three references

The materials must be received by December 15, 2018. Please make one document file (.docx file or PDF) containing the materials outlined above and submit it via email to Dr. Kristopher Copeland (kristophercopeland@dcccd.edu). Please indicate “2019 CSCA Federation Prize Proposal” explicitly in the subject line.

The recipient of the Federation Prize is recognized at the Hall-of-Fame Awards Luncheon and Business Meeting. It is expected that a representative for any winning proposal attend the event to collect the prize.

Please direct any inquiries toward the chair of the 2019 Federation Prize Committee, Dr. Kristopher Copeland at the University of North Lake College, at the email address listed earlier in this call.

All applicants must consult their university grants/awards office when applying for the Federation Prize. The Central States Communication Association does not pay any overhead or administrative fees, nor can applicant salaries be listed as an expense. Any proposal including these items as part of the funding request will be disqualified.

Past recipients include:

The Gustav Friedrich Award is named after former CSCA President Gustav Friedrich and is presented to the author(s) of the Top Student Competitive Paper submitted to the Communication Education Interest Group. At the annual convention, the recipient receives a $100 cash award and a certificate.

The recipient of the Friedrich Award is recognized at the Communication Education Interest Group business meeting.

For more information, contact the officers of the Communication Education Interest Group.

Past recipients are:

The Central States Communication Association (CSCA) is seeking nominees for its 2019 Hall of Fame award. This award and membership in the CSCA Hall of Fame is given to those who have contributed to the discipline of communication through meritorious scholarship, teaching/mentoring, participation at conventions, and service to the association.

In order to be nominated, the potential Hall of Fame recipient must be a current CSCA member and must have joined the association on or before 1994.

To nominate an individual for the Hall of Fame, a packet must be submitted containing (1) a letter of nomination citing the nominee’s accomplishments in light of the selection criteria, (2) a copy of the nominee’s vita, and (3) two additional letters of support.  Nomination packets should be submitted as Word documents.

Nomination packets must be received no later than February 1, 2019.

Queries and submissions should be addressed to the following:

Amy Aldridge Sanford
President, Central States Communication Association
Amy.Aldridge.Sanford@tamucc.edu

Past recipients are:

The States Advisory Council recognizes one outstanding state journal and one outstanding manuscript published in one of the state journals. At the annual convention, the recipients of the outstanding state journal and outstanding manuscript receive a certificate.

Each state in the region may submit their latest edition of their journal and one manuscript from that journal. Usually, the person who submits the journal and the manuscript is the editor of the state journal. A jury of three CSCA members reviews the journals and the manuscripts and select one outstanding journal and one outstanding manuscript.

The recipients of the Outstanding State Journal Award and the Outstanding State Manuscript are recognized at the Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon and Business Meeting.

The Central States Communication Association (CSCA) States Advisory Council will recognize the top journal as well as the top manuscript at the annual CSCA conference in Madison, Wisconsin in April 2015.  On behalf of CSCA States Advisory, representative Randy Dillon invites journal editors of central states journals to consider placing forward your state’s journal a well as a manuscript published in your state’s journal over the past year.  We want to recognize the quality of work found in Central States journals.

Please send Prof. Dillon a PDF copy of your 2015 state journal to his email address:randydillon@missouristate.edu

In the same email that you attach the PDF copy of your state journal, identify one particular article from the publication that you believe exemplifies some of the “best work” that is published in your state’s journal.   Briefly explain in a couple of paragraphs why this article has been selected.   Include reasons for the quality in writing, content, connectivity with your organization, and with the discipline.
 
Please submit your entries by Friday, February 5, 2016, 5:00pm CST.
 
The recipient of the CSCA State Journal Award and the recipient(s) of the CSCA State Journal Manuscript Award will be contacted in early March.
 
If you have questions or concerns contact Randy Dillon at randydillon@missouristate.edu or 417-836-4986.

Past recipients of the Outstanding State Journal and the Outstanding Manuscript are:

Outstanding State Journal Award Recipients

Outstanding Manuscript Award Recipients

We are now accepting nomination applications for the 2019 Central States Communication Association (CSCA) Pearson & Nelson Award for Outstanding New Teacher Award. This award recognizes individuals early in their professional career who are showing distinction as teachers. Nominees may be teaching at any level from grade school through graduate school. The committee reserves the right to award several individuals at different academic levels (e.g., K-12, community college, university), so individuals from all types of institutions are encouraged to apply.
 
Nominees must (a) be in their first five years of full-time teaching; (b) be members of CSCA at the time they apply; and (c) attend the conference the year in which the award is presented (2019 in Omaha). Nominees who have more than five years teaching experience at two or more levels, but no more than five years at their most recent teaching level, may also be considered. Prior recipients are not eligible.
 
To be considered for the Pearson & Nelson Award, nominees must electronically submit a nomination packet not to exceed 20 pages excluding cover page, index page, curriculum vita, and/or divider pages. Packets that exceed the page limit will be returned without review. Nomination packets must include (1) a letter of nomination citing the nominee's accomplishments; (2) the nominee's current curriculum vita; (3) three letters of support from students, colleagues, supervisors, and/or administrators; (4) course/instructor evaluation summaries from no more than three recent academic terms (e.g., comments and ratings with explanation of rating scale norms); (5) a description of the nominee's teaching load, including student advising; and (6) at least two samples of personal instructional materials/resources. All of these materials must be combined into a single .pdf file and submitted to the committee chair.
 
The materials must be received by December 15, 2018. Please submit the materials and any inquiries electronically to: Jennifer C. Dunn at jdunn@dom.edu referencing Pearson & Nelson Award in the subject line. All applications submitted by the deadline will receive an email response confirming receipt of their materials.
 
The recipients of the Pearson & Nelson Award for Outstanding New Teacher are recognized at the Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon and Business Meeting at the 2019 CSCA convention.

Past recipients of the award include the following talented professionals:

The Central States Communication Association is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Warren Mentorship Award. The award, named in honor of the late and beloved John T. Warren, recognizes a mid-career scholar who exhibits some of the many virtues John himself exuded as a mentor, scholar, and engaged member of the discipline. To that end, those who are nominated should excel in all aspects of their careers—teaching, research/creativity, service, and engagement—but first and foremost demonstrate excellence as a mentor.

Nominees for this award must (a) at least be in their 11^th year of full-time academic work beyond their terminal degree but within their first 15 years; (b) be members of the Central States Communication Association at the time of application; (c) agree to attend the conference the year the award is presented; and (d) have an exemplary record of mentoring, research/creativity, service, and engagement.

To be considered for the Warren Award, nominees must electronically submit a packet as a single PDF file. This packet should include the following items, arranged in this order: (1) a letter of nomination (self-nominations are welcome); (2) a teaching philosophy statement, not to exceed two pages; (3) evidence of teaching and mentoring excellence, not to exceed ten pages, that can include sample assignments, teaching evaluations, course syllabuses or descriptions, or other materials that indicate teaching and mentoring excellence; (4) a statement that summarizes the candidate’s program of scholarship, not to exceed one page; (5) a complete list of all publications, exhibits, grants or fellowships, and research/creativity awards; (6) a complete list of service contributions at the department, college, university, and disciplinary level; and (7) a one-page statement that documents engagement or impact beyond the classroom.

The materials must be received by 15 December 2018. Please submit the packet (or any inquiries) to: Deanna L. Fassett <Deanna.Fassett@sjsu.edu> with “Warren Award” in the subject line. All applications submitted by the deadline will receive an email response confirming receipt of the working PDF file.
 
The recipients of the Warren Award are recognized at the Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon and Business Meeting.