NAICU Awards
Honoring Heroes of Independent Higher Education
During its Annual Meeting each year, NAICU recognizes individuals who have championed the cause of independent higher education. NAICU has established two awards to be given to individuals within and outside of higher education for their contributions and commitment to the sector, students, faculty, and institutions.
The Henry Paley Memorial Award
Named for Henry Paley, president of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities of New York from 1975-1984, the Paley Award recognizes an individual who embodies his spirit of unfailing service toward the students and faculty of independent colleges and universities. Paley Award recipients have set an example for all who would seek to advance educational opportunity in the United States.
| 2024 | Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, C.M., President, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) |
|
2022 |
Hon. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Member, U.S. Senate and Former President, Southwest Baptist University (MO) |
|
2021 |
No award given; COVID Pandemic |
|
2020 |
Tina Bjarekull, Retired President, Maryland Independent College and University Association (MICUA) |
|
2019 |
David L. Warren, Ph.D., President, NAICU |
|
2018 |
John B. Wilson, President, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey |
|
2017 |
William E. "Bill" Trout, Ph.D., President, Rhodes College (TN) |
|
2016 |
John E. Bassett, Ph.D., President, Heritage University (WA) |
|
2015 |
Christopher B. Nelson, J.D., President, St. John's College (MD) |
|
2014 |
Legal Services Review Panel, NAICU |
|
2013 |
Bernard Fryshman, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools |
|
2012 |
Patricia A. McGuire, J.D.,President, Trinity Washington University (DC) |
|
2011 |
Rev. Charles L. Currie, S.J., President, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities |
|
2010 |
Sister Kathleen Ross, SNJM, President, Heritage University (WA) |
|
2009 |
Morgan Odell, Executive Director, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (News Release) |
|
2008 |
Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., President, University of Notre Dame (IN) |
|
2007 |
Alexander W. (Sandy) Astin, Higher Education Research Institute, University of California |
|
2006 |
Clare Cotton, President, The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Massachusetts |
|
2005 |
Robert N. Kelly, Kansas Independent College Association |
|
2004 |
Michael S. McPherson, Ph.D.,, Spencer Foundation, Macalester College (MN) |
|
2003 |
James C. Ross, President, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities of New York |
|
2002 |
Allen P. Splete, President Emeritus, Council of Independent Colleges |
|
2001 |
No award given; NAICU 25th Anniversary recognized all previous winners |
|
2000 |
Sr. Mary Andrew Matesich, O.P., President, Ohio Dominican College |
|
1999 |
David Irwin, Washington Association of Independent Colleges and Universities |
|
1998 |
Rev. William J. Sullivan, President, Seattle University (WA) |
|
1997 |
James Whalen, Ph.D., President, Ithaca College (NY) |
|
1996 |
John Frazer, Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities |
|
1995 |
Richard F. Rosser, President, NAICU |
|
1994 |
Sr. Dorothy Ann Kelly, OSU, President, College of New Rochelle (NY) |
|
1993 |
Derek Bok, J.D.,, President, Harvard University (MA) |
|
1992 |
No award given |
|
1991 |
Francis "Mike" Michelini, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania |
|
1990 |
The Hon. Silvio Conte, U.S. House of Representatives (R-MA) |
|
1989 |
The Hon. Thomas H. Kean, Governor of New Jersey |
|
1988 |
The Hon. William H. Natcher, U.S. House of Representatives (D-KY) |
|
1987 |
Frank "Sandy" Tredinnick, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Massachusetts |
|
1986 |
James Ream, Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities |
|
1985 |
Rev. Timothy S., Healy, S.J. President, Georgetown University (DC) |
Award for Advocacy of Independent Higher Education
The NAICU Advocacy Award was established to recognize individuals outside of academe who have championed the cause of independent higher education. Whether in government, business, or philanthropy, the recipient of this award has provided leadership, established resources, or enacted policy at the state or national level that recognized the role of independent colleges and universities in serving public purposes. No single contribution makes one eligible to receive the award, it recognizes a lifetime of service, initiative, and determination.
| 2024 |
Hon. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Member, U.S. House of Representatives and Co-chair of the Congressional Independent Colleges Caucus (2019-2024) |
| 2022 | Lois Dickson Rice, "Mother of the Pell Grant" (Posthumously) Award Acepted by Ambassador Susan Rice (Amb. Susan Rice Remarks) |
|
2020-21 |
No award given |
| 2019 |
Hon. Michael E. Capuano (D-MA), Member, U.S. House of Representatives and |
| 2015-18 | No award given |
| 2014 | Hon. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Member, U.S. Senate |
| 2013 | Arnold L. Mitchem, President, Council for Opportunity in Education |
| 2012 | United Technologies Corporation, accepted by UTC Chairman and CEO Louis Chenevert |
| 2011 | Hon. Timothy H. Bishop (D-NY), Member, U.S. House of Representatives |
| 2010 | Hon. George Miller (D-CA), Member, U.S. House of Representatives |
| 2009 | Hon. John W. Warner (R-VA), Member, U.S. Senate (News Release) |
| 2008 | Hon. Ralph Regula (R-OH), Member, U.S. House of Representatives |
| 2007 | Loren Pope, College Placement Counselor and Author, Colleges that Change Lives |
| 2006 | Hon. Philip S. English (R-PA), Member, U.S. House of Representatives |
| 2005 | Hon. Thomas H. Kean, President, Drew University (NJ); Chair, The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States; Former Governor, State of New Jersey |
| 2004 | Hon. Charles E. Grassley (R-IA), Member, U.S. Senate |
| 2003 | Hon. Dale E. Kildee (D-MI), Member, U.S. House of Representatives |
| 2002 | Hon. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-CA), Member, U.S. House of Representatives |
| 2001 | Hon. David R. Obey (D-WI), Member, U.S. House of Representatives |
| 2000 | Hon. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Member, U.S. Senate |
| 1999 | Hon. Claiborne Pell (D-RI) , Member, U.S. Senate |
| 1998 | Hon. William Roth (R-DE), Member, U.S. Senate |
| 1997 | Hon. Richard Riley, U.S. Secretary of Education |
| 1996 | NAICU Member President’s for their Advocacy in Restoring Proposed Cuts to the Federal Student Aid Programs |
| 1995 | Hon. Robert Stafford (R-VT), Member, U.S. Senate |
| 1994 | Hon. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Member, U.S. Senate |
| 1993 | Hon. Terry Sanford (D-NC), Member, U.S. Senate |