Student Affairs Concentration
Awards 2026
Each year, the Student Affairs Concentration (SAC) program recognizes and affirms the
strides and commitments made by members of our community and field. Nominations are now
open for two awards to honor program alumni and colleagues who exemplify SAC’s core
values–Student Development, Multiculturalism, Leadership, Scholarship and Research, and
Ethical Practices. Past recipients have been deeply moved that their nominators took the time to
recognize their careers and contributions to our communities and profession. This is the perfect
opportunity to show your SAC community some love!
Nominate by January 30, 2026
Submit a Nomination
Please submit your nomination(s) using this link:
The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, January 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
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➔ View Past Winners Here (external link)
William “Bud” Thomas Jr. Award
In his nearly 30 years of service to the University of Maryland, College Park, William “Bud” Thomas Jr. was the late Vice President of Student Affairs. He left an indelible mark on the thousands of students he came to know during his tenure. Despite his many administrative duties, Dr. Thomas was conscientious about maintaining contact with students and ensuring their involvement in campus life. Dr. Thomas oversaw 15 student service departments with combined budgets exceeding $130 million. He was the driving force behind the rebuilding and renovation of campus facilities for students, inspiring creativity and innovation.
Dr. Thomas was a national leader in student affairs and was an active member of several professional associations, including the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). He founded the Maryland Student Affairs Conference (M.A.S.C.), the longest-running regional conference in the field. For more than 20 years, Dr. Thomas was an affiliate assistant professor in the Department of Counseling and Personnel Services, teaching several courses, including the doctoral capstone seminar. Throughout his life, Dr. Thomas
mentored numerous student affairs professionals at the University of Maryland and across the country.
Named in honor and memory of the former Vice President for Student Affairs, the William “Bud” Thomas Jr. Award is given to someone in recognition of their care and mentoring of graduate students during their enrollment in the Student Affairs Concentration Program. A mentor is an individual who introduces new ways of thinking, offers insights, challenges assumptions, and shares valuable life lessons. A mentor can also be someone in a formal or informal mentoring position.
Judging Criteria
Nominees for the William “Bud” Thomas Jr. Award are judged by the following criteria:
- Commitment to mentorship
- Interest in developing a mentee’s full potential
- Holistic support for mentees
Nominee Requirements
Requirements for the William “Bud” Thomas Jr. Award nominees include:
- Nominees for this award may consist of graduate assistant supervisors, internship
supervisors, association mentors, or other individuals. - Nominees need not be alumni of the Student Affairs Concentration/College Student
Personnel program. - Nominees must not have received this award previously. View past recipients here.
- Full-time budgeted faculty in the Student Affairs Concentration are not eligible for this
award.
Thomas Magoon Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Thomas Magoon served for over 33 years at the University of Maryland, College Park. In 1955, Dr. Magoon joined the University of Maryland Counseling Center staff and was named Director in 1960, a position he held until 1988. Dr. Magoon also maintained a half-time appointment as a faculty member in the Counseling & Personnel Services Department and the Department of Psychology and was active in both the Counseling Psychology and College Student Personnel communities.
Dr. Magoon was a pioneer in the development of college and university counseling centers, and his career was a search for and the implementation of novel ideas. Among these innovations was the establishment of the National Counseling Center Data Bank, an annual survey of counseling center directors asking for innovative and novel programs and activities, in 1962, and the formation of the American Board of Professional Standards in Vocational Counseling in the late 1950s, which later became the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS). Other innovations include “alternative treatment modes” (counseling beyond the one-to-one), campus outreach and consultation (or, as he called it, “upstream from the counseling center”), and the development of a uniquely structured counseling center. Dr. Magoon recognized students’ need for services beyond the psychological and vocational before many of his colleagues. He held a leading role in establishing the International Accreditation of Counseling Services (International Association of Counseling Services), the only international organization that accredits professional counseling centers at higher academic campuses. Dr. Magoon also served as the chairman of the committee that successfully lobbied for and wrote the first psychologist certification law in Maryland.
Named in honor and memory of the former Director of the Counseling Center, this award is given to a graduate of the Student Affairs Concentration program who best exemplifies the scholar-practitioner role in the spirit of Dr. Magoon. Dr. Magoon utilized research, innovation, and evaluation to serve the Counseling and Student Affairs profession, and he believed sincerely in mentoring others to enable them to realize their full potential.
Judging Criteria
Nominees for the Thomas Magoon Distinguished Alumni Award are judged by the following criteria:
- Evidence of scholarship, research, and teaching to further higher education practice and solve real-world problems.
- Sustained commitment to innovation and service in the field.
- Demonstrated commitment to mentoring others.
Nominee Requirements
Requirements for the Thomas Magoon Distinguished Alumni Award nominees include:
- Nominees for this award must be alumni of the Student Affairs Concentration/College Student Personnel program.
- Nominees must be currently working in higher education.
- Nominees must not have received this award previously. View past recipients here.
Nomination Submission Requirements & FAQs
Submission Requirements
All materials for a specific nominee will be considered together. Additionally, a nomination can be made in collaboration with a lead nominator, who compiles all materials and submits the nomination form once.
Nomination Letter
Upload a PDF of a nomination letter or complete the nomination letter section in the form. If you have collected multiple letters of support, please combine them into a single PDF.
Nominee's Resume/CV (Optional)
The Resume/CV will be used to create a personal blurb for the recipient at the award ceremony. However, we understand that this may not be easily accessible.