Learn more about how the NPDA recognizes its wonderful community!
All-American Award
Rationale: This award is designed with the intent to recognize students beyond the area of competition. While achievement in the forensic activity is taken into account, equal weight should be given to scholarship and service. This award should serve as a crowning touch to those seniors who have demonstrated outstanding qualities in all three areas.
General Qualifications for Nomination: Nominees should have demonstrated personal qualities that show their understanding of the role of intercollegiate forensic competition in a liberal education. They should show evidence of success and good conduct in the forensic activity, excellence in their classroom studies as evidenced not only by grade-point average, but also by the range and challenge of study and show a commitment to the betterment of their community through their forensic and non-forensic activities.
Specific Criteria for Nomination:
- The nominee must be designated as a senior at their four-year institution (or in their last year of competition at a 2-year school) and attending their last NPDA as a competitor.
- The nominee must be competing at the NPDA during the year they are nominated.
- The nominee must have a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA in their college coursework. The nomination must include an unofficial copy of the student’s college transcript of grades.
- The nominee must provide documentation of parliamentary debate success including a resume of awards earned during the nominee’s forensic competition. Also, there should be letters of support that convey the value the individual has added to the NPDA community in general such as mentoring, good sportsmanship, etc.
- The nominee must provide documentation of service work. This can include forensic related service. Service outside of the forensics community will also be a significant criterion. Non-forensic service venues may include the community, civic organizations, the school, etc. The nomination must include a letter of support that addresses the student’s work in providing community service to their university and the community at large.
Nomination Process: Nominations must come from a program director/coach and be submitted to the NPDA Vice President (Fiker Tesfaye, fikertesfaye15 @ gmail.com), who serves as the committee chair.
Coach, Critic, and Distinguished Service Awards
Please send me nominations (davidstevenworth @ gmail.com) no later than February 21, 2025. Please send complete packages. Nominations missing elements cannot be considered.
Here are the awards and criteria.
Brent Northup Distinguished Service Award
Criteria:
a) Past or present association with NPDA is required.
b) Contributions to the advancement and development of NPDA.
c) Evidence of direct service to the NPDA community.
d) Formal and/or informal leadership in the NPDA community.
Nominations must include a one-page summary of the nominee’s accomplishments, a nomination letter, and signed supporting letters of recommendation.
Coach of the Year Award
Criteria:
a) Current association with NPDA is required.
b) The Coach of the Year must be a full-time employee of their institution.
c) Contributions to the advancement and development of NPDA.
d) Evidence of excellence as a coach and/or educator.
Nominations must include a one-page summary of the nominee’s accomplishments, a nomination letter, and signed supporting letters of recommendation.
Critic of the Year Award
Criteria:
a) Current association with NPDA is required.
b) Evidence of excellence as a coach and/or educator.
Nominations must include a one-page summary of the nominee’s accomplishments, a nomination letter, and signed supporting letters of recommendation.