About the MASC/MAHS Adviser of the Year

Student Activities are heavily supported and guided by advisers in the schools. It is important that students have the opportunity to recognize these influential men and women. MASC/MAHS will recognize one outstanding honor society, student council, or leadership class adviser from each of the 12 centers/regions (see which center you are in at www.mascmahs.org/membership). From those award recipients, one that stands out above the rest will be honored as the state Adviser of the Year. If eligible for advancement, nominee will be nominated at the national level.

Policies and Procedures

No Board of Delegate member may participate in a center’s selection if his/her adviser (or one in their building) is a candidate. Recognition of the winners from each center will take place at the State Student Conference (March 2012). No adviser who has been honored as a state or center recipient with this award may be considered again until five (5) years after receiving the award. (If you are unsure if your adviser is eligible please contact 517/327-5315 or todd@mascmahs.org).

The candidate must be serving as a student council, honor society, leadership class, class council, spirit, or volunteer group adviser or co-adviser in a junior high, middle school or high school that is a current member of MASC/MAHS. If you are unsure of your membership status, lists are posted weekly at www.mascmahs.org/membership. There may be only one applicant per school.

The Application Process

The following documents must be included in the application packet, in the following order. See page two for complete descriptions on how to submit this information. PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK your responses for completion and accuracy, as this continues to be a major factor in awards grading/selection.

• Cover Page
• Applicant Resume
• Recommendation from a member of the nominating group's Executive Board
• Recommendation from the school's principal or assistant principal
• Statement from candidate

Part One: Cover Page
For consistency in selection, we ask that you use the PROVIDED cover page filled in completion attached to the front of the application. Original signatures must be used to prove that the information contained is accurate and truthful. Applications without the provided cover page may not be considered.

Part Two: Candidate Resume
Application sheets must be filled out accurately and completely. If this award is being submitted without the candidate's knowledge, make every attempt to include all information as detailed as possible.
Missing or incomplete Application Resume's will cause an application to be disqualified.
The following line items must be addressed in LIST FORMAT. This entire section must not exceed two pages of information.

• Student Council/Honor Society/Leadership Class-sponsored events/activities at the school that the candidate oversees.
• Major, influential additions, changes, alterations the candidate has made to the group since becoming the adviser (provide detail on what the change was and the impact it had on the student group).
• Other areas of involvement within the school.
• Areas of involvement in candidate's local community and/or school community.
• MASC/MAHS conferences/events the candidate has attended
• Awards/recognitions the candidate has received from the student group, school, community, state or nation
• TO BE COMPLETED BY THE INDIVIDUAL NOMINATING THE CANDIDATE: Please describe briefly at least three ways in which you feel the candidate enhances student leadership activities within the student groups and/or school.

Part Three: Principal Recommendation
The school Principal or Assistant Principal must submit a recommendation that touches on why this candidate is worthy of receiving the MASC/MAHS Adviser of the Year award. The committee will be looking for the administrator to touch on how the adviser makes sure the student group makes a valuable contribution to the school and community. There is no need to reiterate the candidate's resume items. Focus on the impact the candidate has had on the students, student leadership organizations, the school as a whole and the surrounding community. The letter is limited to TWO pages, typed, double-spaced. The principal/assistant principal must sign the recommendation letter.

Part Four: Student Recommendation
A member of the student group's executive board must submit a recommendation that touches on why this candidate is worthy of receiving the MASC/MAHS Adviser of the Year award. The committee will be looking for specific examples of how this candidate moves the student group and its members forward and develops their leadership. There is no need to reiterate the candidate's resume items. Focus on the impact the candidate has had on students, student leadership activities, the school as a whole and the surrounding community. The letter is limited to TWO pages, typed, double-spaced. The board member must sign the recommendation letter.

Part Five: Candidate Response
In order to allow this award to be submitted as a surprise to the candidate, we have created a prompt that you may disguise that the candidate needs to write a response to. The nominee must reply to the following statement: “What makes student leadership activities vital to schools and education?” This statement is limited to TWO pages, typed, double-spaced. The candidate must sign the statement.

Click here to download cover page and printable instructions..

Questions or Comments?

Questions on all award programs should be directed to Todd Burlingham, MASC/MAHS Coordinator at todd@mascmahs.org for fastest response. Call volumes at the office are very heavy at this time of year. Email
regarding awards will be the fastest way for clarification. Award winners will be announced at the 2012 MASC/MAHS Student State Conference (although encouraged, you do not need to be present to accept your award).