Date: Friday, September 13, 2013
Category: Apra News
APRA recently announced the 2013 recipients of the APRA Scholarship, Professional of the Year Award and APRA Foundation Margaret Fuhry Grant.
Winners were selected by APRA’s Awards Committee from nominations submitted by candidates or their peers in the field.
“Each one of the award winners excels not just in their daily responsibilities, but also in helping advance both the prospect research field and the organizations that they serve,” said 2013 APRA Awards Committee Chair Mandy Heath, Senior Research Analyst in Research and Prospect Management at Arizona State University. “Their dedication, passion and expertise is what allowed us, as a committee, to honor their hard work!”
The 2013 awards winners include:
- APRA Scholarship: Barbara Lund, Director of Research and Prospect Management, Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), Lawrenceville, Georgia
- Professional of the Year Award: Craig Leonard, Director of Prospect Development and Analytics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Margaret Fuhry Grant: Liz Rejman, Head of Development, Museum London, London, Ontario
The 2013 APRA Scholarship allowed Barbara Lund to attend APRA’s 26th Annual International Conference at no cost to her or her organization. Lund was recognized for her excellence in building a one-person shop from the ground up at GGC and overcoming challenges that include dealing with a small alumni base and devastating cuts to their public funding. Lund served as APRA-GA's Treasurer in 2012 and participated on the APRA-GA Conference Committee. "Barbara’s goal is to be a catalyst for the further professionalization of prospect research in Georgia," said Heath. "She has demonstrated her commitment and proven leadership both within her organization and through her continued volunteer participation."
Craig Leonard, APRA’s 2013 Professional of the Year Award winner, also received a complimentary registration and accommodation to the 26th Annual International Conference. Leonard was honored for his outstanding efforts to develop and operationalize a prospect management program at the University of Michigan, including building new relationships and high-level strategies, collaborating with IT teams to ensure the database was primed for the program’s needs and working one-on-one with development officers across campus. "His successful contributions to culture-change and process-driven solutions have led to both his advancement and improved performance of the institution’s fundraising efforts," said Heath. "Craig’s accomplishments, dedication and leadership have had a positive impact on his organization’s success."
As the recipient of the Margaret Fuhry Grant, Liz Rejman received a $500 stipend to be used for professional development. Rejman is well recognized within the APRA community for her expertise with emerging technologies, and frequently shares her knowledge on prospect research, database management and media monitoring as a presenter and instructor. Rejman is a board member of APRA Canada and has been involved in numerous other professional organizations during her career, including APRA International and the London Region Fund Raising Executives. "Rejman believes in innovation and creativity in her volunteer roles, and has consistently demonstrated a passion and dedication to the profession that exceeds the demands of her responsibilities, particularly in the areas of emerging resources and information technology," said Heath.
Nomination materials for the 2014 Awards program will be available in January 2014.