Alumni & Friends
Distinguished Awards
Each year the USF College of Education is proud to present awards to recognize faculty, staff, community members and alumni who have made a positive impact in the field.
Alumni, staff, faculty, students and friends of the university are invited to nominate individuals until December 15, 2026 for the 2027 Distinguished Awards.
Betty Castor Champion of Education Award
2026 Recipient: Derrick Brooks
Past Recipients
| Recipient | Award Year | Graduation Year and Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Betty Castor | 2025 |
MEd '68 Higher Education Administration, University of Miami |
Dean’s Lifetime Achievement Award
The Dean’s Lifetime Achievement Alumni Award recognizes an individual who has graduated from the USF College of Education and who has demonstrated long-term contributions, achievement, and service within Education or a related profession – locally, statewide, regionally, nationally, and/or globally.
2026 Recipient: Albert Ritzhaupt
Past Recipients
| Recipient | Award Year | Graduation Year and Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin K. Hendrick | 2025 | BA ’97 Social Science Education MEd ’06 Educational Leadership |
| Charles Vilardi | 2024 | B.S. ’93 Elementary Education M.Ed. ‘97 Educational Leadership |
| Joyce Haines, Ph.D. | 2023 | BA ’68 Elementary Education MA ’77 Reading Education PhD ’89 Interdisciplinary Education |
| Dominic “Dick” J. Puglisi, Ph.D. | 2022 | ’69 MA Social Science Education |
| Troy D. Sadler, Ph.D. | 2021 | ’03 PhD Science Education |
| Mona Jain, Ph.D. | 2020 | ’84 PhD Interdisciplinary Education |
| Joe Tomaino | 2018 | ’71 M.A. Business Education |
| Joanna Fox | 2017 | ’99 B.A. English Education |
| Michael A. Grego, Ed.D. | 2016 | ’89 M.Ed. Educational Leadership ’97 Ed.D. Educational Leadership |
| Doris Ross Reddick | 2015 | ’70 M.A. Special Education |
| Earl Lennard, Ph.D. | 2014 | ’63 B.A. Special Education ’93 Ph.D. Vocational Education |
Spirit of Partnership Alumni AwarD
The Spirit of Partnership Alumni Award recognizes an individual who has graduated from the USF College of Education and who has created and sustained partnerships within the community, within the college, and/or between the community and the college to promote and advance the field of education.
2026 Recipients: Cheryl Joe, John Hill and Jennifer Rouse
Past Recipients
| Recipient | Award Year | Graduation Year and Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Nadia Combs | 2025 | BS ’93 Social Science Education MEd ’02 Educational Leadershi |
| Keri Fogle, Ph.D. | 2024 | M.A. ‘08 Exceptional Student Education Ph.D. ’14 Curriculum and Instruction |
| Monica Ilse, Ed.D. | 2023 | ’98 MA Counselor Education ‘00 MEd Educational Leadership ’11 Ed.D. Educational Leadership |
| LaSonya L. Moore , Ed.D. | 2022 | ’03 B.A. Special Education ’07 M.Ed Educational Leadership |
| LaShawn Frost, Ed.D. | 2021 | ’04 M.Ed Educational Leadership ’07 M.Ed Educational Leadership |
| Sara Kay Bonti | 2020 | ’88 B.S. English Education ’07 M.Ed Education Leadership |
| Erin Sapp Santiago | 2018 | ’94 M.A. Exceptional Student Education |
| Aracelis A. Rogers, Ph.D. | 2017 | ’04 Ph.D. Adult Education |
| Stephanie Holmquist Johnson, Ph.D. | 2016 | ’05 M.A. Career & Technical Education ’14 Ph.D. Career & Workforce Education |
| Christopher S. Christoff | 2015 | ’96 Special Education |
| Freda Abercrombie | 2014 | ’88 M.A. English Education |
Emerging Alumni Awards
The Emerging Alumni Award recognizes graduates from the last 10 years who are already making significant impacts through excellence, leadership and service.
2026 Recipients: Melissa Kulp and Stephanie Hornick
Past Recipients
| Recipient | Award Year | Graduation Year and Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Bernadette Anderson | 2025 | BS ’18 Physical Education MS ’19 Exercise Science |
| Kaley Robinson | 2025 | BS ’09 Elementary Education MA ’18 School Counselor Education |
| Yan Wang, Ph.D. | 2024 | Ph.D. ’18 Curriculum and Instruction |
| Brad Bernstein | 2023 | ’10 BS Physical Education ’15 MEd Educational Leadership |
| Caprice Edmond | 2022 | ’15 M.A. Elementary Education ’17 M.Ed Educational Leadership |
| Edna Jones Miller, Ph.D. | 2021 | ’12 Ph.D. Higher Education Administration |
| Francesca Perrone-Britt | 2020 | ’10 B.A. Elementary Education ’12 M.A. Reading Education ’20 Ed.S. Curriculum & Instruction |
| Alex LaSpina | 2018 | ’09 B.A. Elementary |
| Tyler Campbell | 2017 | ’12 B.S. English Education |
Alumni Innovation Award
This award recognizes alumni who create innovative programs, products or initiatives that advance education in positive and entrepreneurial ways.
2026 Recipient: Marlee Strawn
Undergraduate Student Leadership & Service Awards
This award will be given to two students who demonstrate outstanding leadership and passionate commitment to supporting learning and community well-being.
2026 Recipients: Reese Kantrowitz and Kathleen Porcelli
Graduate Student Leadership & Service Awards
This award will be given to two students who demonstrate outstanding leadership and passionate commitment to supporting learning and community well-being.
2026 Recipients: Daria Smirnova and Paige Glossop
Margaret Burlington Tritle Faculty Excellence Awards
This award is given to two faculty annually. Public nominations are not accepted, however, the USF College of Education leadership team analyzes a variety of sources, including annual performance, to determine awardees.
2026 Recipients: Bill Campbell and Mandie Dunn
Spirit of the college AwarD
New for 2027: This award honors an exceptional individual who selflessly goes above and beyond to support the college, stepping up without being asked and making a lasting impact through their enthusiasm, initiative and commitment.
Staff excellence AwarD
New for 2027: This award recognizes a current College of Education staff member whose dedication, professionalism, and commitment have made a lasting impact on the college community. Honorees exemplify excellence in service, innovation, collaboration, and leadership through their contributions behind the scenes and across the institution. This award celebrates staff who consistently go above and beyond to support students, faculty, alumni, and partners while advancing the mission and values of the College of Education. Recipients embody a spirit of service, integrity, and unwavering commitment that strengthens the college and enriches the lives of those it serves.