AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
CCME AWARDS INFORMATION
Award Nominations for 2025 are closed.
We will announce the recipients at the 2025 Symposium.
Nominations for the following year will open mid-calendar year 2025.
Awards and Criteria
John Brian Service and Leadership Award
John Brian was the Education Director at Norton AFB for many years. He was a member of CCMEA (California Colleges and Military Educators Association) when it was an organization only for military and civilian educators serving the military in California. John was instrumental in getting the organization to broaden its scope and change its name. He served as President 1977-1978. The John Brian Service and Leadership Award is provided to a nominee meeting the following criteria:
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The nominee must be an employee of any branch of the United States Armed Services and must be directly involved in the delivery of voluntary off-duty education programs on a military installation.
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The Awards Committee, at its discretion, may seek a written recommendation from the nominee's commanding officer or department head.
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The nominee must have worked at least two years at the office level as an education services officer, education specialist, education counselor, or education technician.
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The Awards Committee shall ascertain that the nominee's accomplishments are deserving of the award, and that these accomplishments demonstrate the nominee's dedication and leadership in providing quality voluntary off-duty education programs at his/her military installation.
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If a nominee has been the recipient of any CCME Award in the past 5 years they are deemed an ineligible nominee.
William E. Kennedy Award
William Kennedy was Vice President and Head of Chapman College's (now Chapman University), regional education centers. Bill was one of the early pioneers in developing and implementing college degree programs at extension campus sites. Bill was a national advocate and avid supporter of the voluntary education program and was instrumental in founding the CCMEA (California Colleges and Military Educators Association) which later became CCME and served as the first elected President of the association. Sometime after Bill's death in 1985, the William Kennedy Award was established in his honor. The William E. Kennedy Award is given to a nominee meeting the following criteria:
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The nominee must be an employee of an institution offering a program of instruction at one or more military installations.
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The program of instruction offered by the employing institution must be governed by the provisions of voluntary off-duty education programs.
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In addition, at their discretion, the Awards Committee may seek a written recommendation from the President, Vice-President, or Dean from the nominee's educational institution.
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The nominee has been employed directly in the promotion and delivery of voluntary off-duty education programs for a period of at least three years.
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The Awards Committee shall ascertain that the nominee's accomplishments are deserving of the award and that these accomplishments demonstrate the nominee's dedication and leadership in the delivery of quality programs to military installations.
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If a nominee has been the recipient of any CCME Award in the past 5 years they are deemed an ineligible nominee.
CCME Corporate Award
The CCME Corporate Award is presented to an organization in recognition of its significant contributions to the cause of military education. The recipient should be a corporation (profit or not-for-profit) that supplies quality education products or services to the armed services. The Corporate Award is provided to a nominee meeting the following criteria:
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The nominee must be an organization directly involved in the support of voluntary off-duty education to the armed forces.
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The Awards Committee, at its discretion, may seek a written recommendation from the nominee's institutional leader (president, CEO, etc.).
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The Awards Committee shall ascertain that the nominee's organizational accomplishments are deserving of the award and that these accomplishments demonstrate the nominee's dedication and leadership in supporting quality voluntary off-duty education to the armed services.
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If a nominee has been the recipient of any CCME Award in the past 5 years they are deemed an ineligible nominee.
CCME Institution Award
The CCME Institution Award is presented to a higher education institution in recognition of its significant contributions to the cause of military education. The recipient will be a college or university that supplies quality education programs to the armed services. The Institution Award is provided to a nominee meeting the following criteria:
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The nominee must be an institution directly involved in the support of voluntary off-duty education to the armed forces.
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The Awards Committee, at its discretion, may seek a written recommendation from the nominee's institutional leader (president, provost, dean, etc.).
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The Awards Committee shall ascertain that the nominee's organizational accomplishments are deserving of the award, and that these accomplishments demonstrate the nominee's dedication and leadership in supporting quality voluntary off-duty education to the armed services.
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If a nominee has been the recipient of any CCME Award in the past 5 years they are deemed an ineligible nominee.
Barry Cobb Government Organization Award
This award recognizes the outstanding contributions that government entities make to military education in honor of Dr. Barry Cobb who retired after serving as Director of Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) from 1981-2005. Dr. Cobb reflected on his government career saying, "We should all feel a strong sense of accomplishment for our efforts to provide educational opportunities to the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. I know our work has changed lives and provided so many individuals a chance to grow personally and professionally." The Barry Cobb Government Organization Award is provided to a nominee meeting the following criteria:
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The nominee must be a government organization directly involved in the delivery of voluntary off-duty education programs to the military.
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The Awards Committee, at its discretion, may seek a written recommendation from the nominee's government agency (director, president, etc.).
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The Awards Committee shall ascertain that the nominee's accomplishments are deserving of the award, and that these accomplishments demonstrate the nominee's dedication and leadership in providing quality voluntary off-duty education programs or services.
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If a nominee has been the recipient of any CCME Award in the past 5 years they are deemed an ineligible nominee.
Gary A. Woods Community Partnership Award
The Gary A. Woods Community Partnership Award is presented to organizations that have established unique relationships, programs, and services that positively impact the personal and professional development of our Service members, Veterans, and their families. Recipients will have demonstrated how they have contributed to the academic and career growth of our Service members, Veterans, and their families through a project or partnership that promotes transition readiness and employment.
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The nominees must be organizations that are directly involved in the support and/or delivery of voluntary off-duty education programs to the military.
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The Awards Committee, at its discretion, may seek a written recommendation from the nominee's leadership entity (director, president, CEO, etc.).
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The Awards Committee shall ascertain that the nominee's accomplishments are deserving of the award and that these accomplishments demonstrate the nominee's dedication and contributions to the academic and career growth of our Service members, Veterans, and their families.
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If a nominee has been the recipient of any CCME Award in the past 5 years they may deemed an ineligible nominee.
Questions can be directed to the CCME Awards Chair at confermentofficer@ccmeonline.org
CCME AWARD RECIPIENTS
Barry Cobb Government Organization Award
Recognizes the outstanding contributions that government entities make to military education.
2023 Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)
2022 US Coast Guard ESO Team - Shelby Dill, Velma Vining, Debra Stancliff, Dr. Bonnie Kelly, and Theresa Henry
2021 MCAS Cherry Point Education Center - Education Services Officer Teresa Allen
2018 US Army Installation Management Command
2017 Eglin Air Force Base Education Center
2016 Coast Guard Institute
2015 MCB Camp Pendleton
2013 Joint Base Andrews Air Force Base
2012 Ramstein Air Force Base
2011 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
2010 Coast Guard PSSU Honolulu Learning Center & Marine Corps Base Hawaii Joint Education Center 2009 Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges & Community College of the Air Force
Gary A. Woods ACME Award
2023 Virginia Advisory Council on Military Education (VA-ACME)
2022 California Advisory Council on Military Education (CA-ACME)
2021 Mid-South Advisory Council on Military Education (Mid-South ACME)
2019 Florida Advisory Council on Military Education (FLA-ACME)
2018 Southeastern Council on Military Education (SECOME)
2017 Virginia Advisory Council on Military Education (VA-ACME)
John Brian Service and Leadership Award
Outstanding service to the voluntary education community by a government employee.
2022 Lori Fox - Education and Career Specialist, Voluntary Education Center Quantico Marine Corps Base
2021 Johanna E. Rose - Education Services Specialist Supervisor, MCCS Lejeune-New River
2020 Deborah Marconda – Education Section Head, Leadership Scholar Program Manager, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps
2019 Ms. Alva Anthony – Chief, Force Development (Education & Training)
2018 Mr. Bart MacMillan - Education and Career Specialist, USMC, Henderson Hall
2017 Mr. Peter Harris, Education Chief, John A. Lejeune Education Center, MCCS Lejeune-New River
2016 Sam Bagwell, US Marine Corps, and Phil Cataquiz, US Navy
2015 Rosalee "Sally" Lambert
2014 William Garcia
2013 Donna Duellburg
2012 Ann Hunter, Chief USN Education
2011 Mariver "Ivy" Castro
2010 Major Troy M. Gipps
2009 Dawn A. Bilodeau
2008 Jonell Calloway
Special Recognization Tributes
2022 Colen Charles "Chuck Rambo - Military Deputy to the CAO, Office of the Provost US Army | Dr. Clinton "Andy" Anderson | Dr. Carol Berry - Director, DANTES and founder of Virginia ACME
William E. Kennedy Award
Outstanding dedication and leadership in the delivery of quality programs to military installations and/or individuals.
2023 Deanna Girard - Assistant Director & Site Coordinator, Camp Lejeune
2022 Keri Reams - University Development Manager, Military Division, Grand Canyon University
2021 Kim Mitchell - Senior Vice President, Military, Veteran & Gov't Affairs, National University
2018 Mr. Robert Wells - Military Science Coordinator, Texas A&M University, Central Texas
2017 Pamela Washington, Park University, Henderson Hall Campus
2016 Jim Yeonopolus, Central Texas College
2015 James McDonough
2013 Kirsten Savage
2011 Dr. Cheryl Polson and Susan Dewan
2010 Richard W. Carter
2009 Randy Wright
2008 William “Bud” Hayes, Jr.
CCME Community Partner Award
2022 Microsoft Inc.
2021 Our Community Salutes - Founder & President Dr. Kenneth Hartman
CCME Corporate Award
Presented to an organization in recognition of its significant contributions to the cause of military education.
2023 Amazon Military
2022 Cyber Bytes Academy - Quantico Cyber Hub
2021 Solid, LLC - President Lisa Lutz
2019 Indtai, Inc.
2018 BAM Technologies
2017 Tutor.com
2015 Military Advanced Education (MAE)
2011 American Council on Education (ACE)
2010 Indtai, Inc.
2009 BAM Technologies
2008 MBS Direct
CCME Institution Award
Presented to a higher education institution in recognition of its significant contributions to the cause of military education.
2023 Thomas Edison University
2022 Pierce College JBLM Campus
2021 Saint Martin's University, JBLM Campuses
2020 Webster University
2019 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2018 University of North Carolina - Wilmington
2017 Colorado Technical University
2016 Troy University
2015 Kansas State University
2014 Saint Martin's University
2013 State University of New York, Empire State College
2012 American Military University
2011 University of Maryland University College (UMUC)
2010 Hawaii Pacific University
2009 Coastline Community College
2008 Colorado Technical University at Colorado Springs
CCME Lifetime Achievement Award
2023 Donna Duellberg
2022 Hildegard Buan, Air Force Chief of Voluntary Education
2021 Fred Drummond, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Force Education & Training
2019 Jeffrey Cropsey, Joycelyn Groot, and Daryl Patrick
2018 Mebane Harrison and Benjamin Randle
2017 Dr. John Ebersole
2015 Jim Sweizer
2014 Andrea Baridon
2013 Ramona McAfee and Susan McIntosh
2012 Jim Anderson, Jeffrey Haycraft, and Marcy Shapiro
2011 Loretta Cornett-Huff
2008 Dian Stoskopf
CCME President’s Award
Recognizes significant contributions from any sector that has advanced the cause of military education.
2023 Anthony Clarke and Michael Allen
2022 Hildegard Buan, Air Force Chief of Voluntary Education and CCME Board of Directors
2021 Alisha Miller and Bethany Taylor
2020 Dawn Bilodeau
2019 Amy Moorash, Microsoft, Inc., and Student Veterans of America
2018 Jim Yeonopolous
2017 Dr. Kathryn Snead
2016 Organizational Award: Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center (NETPDTC). Individual Award: Laurine Anderson
2015 Carolyn Baker
2014 William Yaeger
2013 Bonnie Orvick
2012 Louis Martini
2011 Carolyn Baker
2010 Jeffrey Cropsey
2009 Gary Woods
2008 James Selbe and James Wright
CCME President Emeritus
2021 Louis Martini - CCME Symposium Event Manager | Mebane Harrison | Dr. Fred Huber
CCME Service Award
2022 Kelly Wilmeth, Jim Yeonopolus, Debbie Havens, Bethany Taylor, Registration Headquarters
2021 Janice Neal, Carmenza Jaramillo-Akers, Rodney Clar, Boris Kun, Scott Leeling, and Wendy Sikora
2020 Anthony Clarke, Thomas Dawkins, Michael Midura, Alisha Miller, Gerald Smith, Janine Wert
2019 Shad Satterthwaite and Lane Huber
2017 Jim Cronin, Jeff Cropsey, and Margaret Reed
2015 Barbara Merlo, Angela Reese, Deborah Walker, and Bill Yeager
2014 Linda Frank and GySgt Axel Davila
CCME Voluntary Education Service Award
2023 US Air Force
Gay G. Close - ESO Hanscom | Fay (Mac) Mcroberts - Education & Training Technician EGLIN | Lauralyn Collins - Guidance Counselor
2023 US Army
Chrissy Morris - ESO Schofield Barracks | Shirley Avant-Ferguson - ESO Fort Riley | Joesph "Joe" Agresi - Chief Education Services Fort Drum
2023 US Army National Guard
Roland Fisher - ESS Maryland | Stanley Brings - ESS Idaho | Trichell Harden - Guidance Counselor Arizona
2023 US Navy
Lelia (Jean) Powell - ESS | Sharen G. Richardson - Supervisory ESS
2022 US Air Force
Bruce Barton - ESO AETC Maxwell | Larry Brooks - ESO AETC Columbus | Richard Day - ESO -JBLM McChord Field | John Fitzgerald - ESO JBSA Lackland | Andrew Matthew - ESS RAF Alconbury | Monica Sanchez - Lead Counselor - JBSA Lackland
2022 US Army
CW4 Lee Bushaw - ESO - NDARNG | Mike Engen - ESO Fort Hood | LTC Alfred Horridge - ESO LAARNG | Pamela King - ESO Fort Stewart | Susan Sine, ESO
2022 US Coast Guard
Debra Annam - ESO District 5 - Bases Miami FL | Nate Bruner - ESO District #1 Sector New England ME | Brion Newman - ESO District #13 Base Seattle WA | Bob Plumpton - ESO District 1 Base Boston MA | Larry Vellucci - ESO District #13 Air Station Port Angeles WA | Gordy Yowell - ESO District #15 North Caroline
2022 US Marine Corps
Sam Bagwell - ESO - JBM Henderson Hall | James Brooks - ESO MCRD San Diego
2022 US Navy
Ernest D'Antonio Director USN Voluntary Education - NAS Norfolk
SCHOLARSHIPS
Becoming Change Agents:
Expanding and Leveraging our Networks
to Support Our Military Community
The 2023 application period is OPEN.
Awards and scholarships will be announced in November 2023.
The Council of Military Educators (CCME) is pleased to offer $1,000 scholarships each year to United States Servicemembers (active military/veterans), spouses, and children of servicemembers who are working towards the completion of higher education degrees.
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CCME Joe King Scholarship (5 awards)
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Loretta Cornett-Huff Scholarship (5 awards)
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CCME Veteran Scholarship (5 awards)
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CCME Workforce Credentials Scholarship (5 awards)
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CCME Military Child Scholarship (5 awards)