The Elevation in Practice Awards recognize innovative, impactful, and inclusive work advancing the modern fraternal movement. These awards focus less on traditional programming and more on originality, advancement, and transformative practice.

There are three award categories, with up to three winners recognized in each category:

• Elevation in Practice – Impact Award
• Elevation in Practice – Inclusion Award
• Elevation in Practice – Innovation Award

At their core, the Elevation in Practice Awards recognize work that is innovative in design, impactful in outcomes, and inclusive in approach. These awards are meant to elevate practices shaping the future of the fraternal movement.

Supporting Materials

Nominators may upload up to three supporting materials to strengthen a nomination and demonstrate how the program or practice meets award criteria. Examples of supporting materials include:

• Assessment or feedback data
• Testimonials
• Program materials
• Reports or documentation
• Additional evidence of outcomes and impact

Annual Meeting Educational Sessions

Recipients of an Elevation in Practice Award will be invited to lead a 50-minute Educational Session at the 2026 Annual Meeting. This provides recipients the opportunity to:

• Share their work with colleagues across the field
• Showcase successful models and practices
• Help elevate innovative approaches within the profession

Note: If you are submitting a proposal through the Call for Programs about an exceptional practice your team has implemented or a program your organization/institution hosts, consider submitting an Elevation in Practice Award nomination for it as well.

A program or practice can only be nominated in one (1) Elevation in Practice category, so consider which of the three categories your nomination is best suited for. A strong nomination in any of the three categories often includes:

• Clear explanation of the practice or program
• Connection to award criteria
• Evidence of outcomes or impact
• Supporting materials that strengthen the story
• A compelling example others could learn from

Purpose

Recognizes practices and programs that demonstrate measurable, transformational impact through innovation and data-informed design.

Focus Areas

Strong nominations may demonstrate the following:

• Use of data and analytics to inform practice
• Evidence of improved outcomes
• Increased access, applicability, or quality
• Scalable or replicable impact
• Innovative solutions supported by measurable results

What This Award Celebrates

This award honors work that:

• Uses evidence to drive change
• Shows tangible outcomes and progress
• Creates models others can learn from
• Sets a standard for data-informed practice

In Simple Terms

This award is for work that can show: “We did something innovative, and we can prove it made a difference.”

Questions Asked in the Nomination Form

Click here to view award nomination questions.

Purpose

Recognizes practices and programs advancing access, belonging, coalition building, and community engagement.

Focus Areas

Strong nominations may demonstrate:

• Efforts that foster belonging and empowerment
• Expanded access and opportunity
• Inclusive pathways and support systems
• Community-centered engagement
• Coalition building and collaboration
• Practices that amplify underrepresented voices

What This Award Celebrates

This award honors work that:

• Removes barriers
• Centers diverse communities and perspectives
• Builds partnerships for greater impact
• Creates more equitable and inclusive spaces

In Simple Terms

This award is for work that can show: “We created stronger belonging, broader access, and deeper inclusion.”

Questions Asked in the Nomination Form

Click here to view award nomination questions.

Purpose

Recognizes groundbreaking ideas and original approaches that challenge norms and reshape practice.

Focus Areas

Strong nominations may demonstrate:

• Original or creative approaches to challenges
• Reimagined methods or systems
• Breakthrough ideas with broad relevance
• Solutions addressing pressing issues in new ways
• Innovations that influence communities or the profession

What This Award Celebrates

This award honors work that:

• Pushes boundaries
• Challenges conventional thinking
• Sparks new ideas and possibilities
• Transforms how challenges are approached

In Simple Terms

This award is for work that can show: “We approached a challenge in a bold, original, and transformative way.”

Questions Asked in the Nomination Form

Click here to view award nomination questions.