Elevation in Practice Awards
Launched in 2024, and focusing on innovation, impact and inclusion, the Elevation in Practice Awards focus less on traditional
programming and more on originality towards advancements of the modern fraternal movement. The Elevation in
Practice Awards highlight up to three winners in the three categories, across all membership types within the Association
of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors.
Impact Award
This elevation award celebrates the pinnacle of impact in practice. Celebrating visionaries whose innovative designs have reshaped the learning landscape, driven by compelling data showcasing remarkable impact. These architects have harnessed the power of insights and evidence to revolutionize learning paradigms, significantly enhancing outcomes and progress. Through meticulously collected data and analytics, they have demonstrated tangible and transformative results in areas such as access, applicability, and quality. Their commitment to leveraging data as a guiding force has not only amplified experience effectiveness but also created a blueprint for scalable, impactful initiatives. Their revolutionary use of data-driven methodologies serves as an inspiration, setting new standards and paving the way for a more data-informed future.
Innovation Award
This innovation award celebrates the pinnacle of ingenuity in practice. Recognizing trailblazers who have reshaped paradigms, this award celebrates groundbreaking ideas that have transformed industries and communities alike. From reimagining conventional methods to initiating technological advancements, recipients of this award embody the spirit of creativity, pushing boundaries to create a brighter, more innovative future. This award commends visionaries whose original solutions have not only challenged norms but also addressed pressing issues with unprecedented creativity. Their commitment to ingenuity serves as an inspiration, sparking new ideas and revolutionizing the way we approach challenges.
Inclusion Award
This elevation award celebrates the pinnacle of inclusion in practice. Applauding leaders who have championed inclusive practices through their groundbreaking application, emphasizing access, coalition building, and community engagement. It recognizes those who have shattered barriers by creating pathways for various communities to access opportunities and support systems. These catalysts exemplify a commitment to inclusivity by actively engaging and involving diverse communities, ensuring their needs and perspectives are at the forefront of transformative initiatives. Through their unwavering dedication to fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment, they’ve created spaces where everyone feels valued and represented. Their innovative strategies have transcended conventional boundaries and forged powerful collaborations that amplify voices often unheard, fostering a more inclusive, equitable future for all.
Previous Programming Awards
AFA/CoHEASAP Award for Outstanding Alcohol/Drug Prevention Program
Originally formed in 1983 as the Inter-Association Task Force for Alcohol/Other Substance Abuse Issues (IATF), CoHEASAP (Coalition of Higher Education Associations for Substance Abuse Prevention) has served as the leading, independent voice on this critical student issue, and has represented a coalition of 20 different higher education associations for over 25 years. This award annually recognized an outstanding campus and/or inter/national organization for its efforts in broad-based alcohol/other drug prevention efforts and the impacts they have had.
Diversity & Social Justice Initiative Award
Established in 1994, up to four awards were presented to an individual, institution, or organization that has contributed significantly to the development of multicultural understanding, diversity education, or social justice initiatives in a college or university fraternity/sorority community or inter/national organization. Criteria for this award included Affiliate, Associate, Graduate, or Professional membership in AFA or institutions/organizations with at least one eligible AFA member and significant involvement in diversity, social justice, and/or multicultural issues.
Excellence in Educational Programming Award
The purpose of the Excellence in Educational Programming Award is to recognize new and innovative programs that facilitate a meaningful experience around learning and education for fraternity and sorority members.. Three awards may be presented for educational programming efforts: one to a fraternal organization for efforts directed to undergraduate or alumni members, one to an affiliate or vendor member organization for educational efforts, and one for a campus-based program for new and innovative educational efforts. Organizations/Campuses may not receive the award more than once for the same program in a three-year cycle. Previous winners are eligible to reapply a program but documented changes or shifts must be articulated comparatively against the previous winning program.
Outstanding Change Initiative Award
Established in 1996, this award is presented to institutions of higher education, and inter/national organizations that have made tremendous progress and improvement in their fraternity/sorority community or organization. The award recognizes major initiatives or long term plans that have led to positive changes within the campus fraternity and sorority community or the inter/national organization and measured improvements, results, and positive outcomes in all or some of the following areas: scholarship, educational programs, leadership development, risk management, collaboration, community engagement, retention, and membership recruitment.
