Kentucky College Personnel Association CPAK is accepting nominations for the 2026 CPAK awards. The deadline for submissions is February 13, 2026. Award recipients will be recognized at the 2026 CPAK Annual Conference on March 16, 2026 at the University of Louisville.
- The Dr. Michael Cuyjet Outstanding Graduate Student Award – To be eligible for this award, nominees should be in graduate program in CSP, Higher Education Administration, or similar field. The award is given to the nominee(s) who has demonstrated dedication, service and commitment to the college personnel field while achieving their academic goals.
- The Outstanding Emerging Professional Award – To be eligible for this award, nominees should be in the first four years of their professional student affairs career and have made significant professional contributions or achievements on a campus, or at the state or regional level. The award is given to the nominee(s) who demonstrates professional ethics, dedication, and commitment to the principles of the college personnel profession.
- The Dr. Fred Rhodes Outstanding Service Award – To be eligible for this award, nominees should have five or more years of professional experience and have made significant professional contributions or achievements on a campus, or at the state or regional level. The award is given to the nominee(s) who demonstrates professional ethics, dedication, and commitment to the principles of the college personnel profession.
- The Innovator Award – To be eligible for this award, nominees must have demonstrated innovation through programming, practice, or research. Innovation is the creative use of new or adapted ideas that disrupt the status quo and quickly improve and/or create new programs and services related to strategic priorities resulting in tangible benefit to the state, campus, or community.