Butts-Whiting Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize and honor outstanding leaders in ACUI who have made significant contributions to the college union and student activities movement and whose accomplishments and careers are a credit to ACUI.
This award also spotlights the accomplishments of the Association and thereby increases the pride of the staff and students who work with the college union program on each campus. It presents to college communities around the world tangible evidence of the effectiveness of the programs of the college union. In establishing this program, it is recognized that the award is given for outstanding achievement and that no compromises diminishing the significance of the award are to be made
2021 Recipient
Keith Kowalka has served at the University of Houston for 23 years, currently leading a large comprehensive division of multiple departments supporting student engagement, activities, and enrollment services.
Colleagues can attest to his skills and talents as a leader, role model, mentor, and friend—contributing as an ACUI volunteer with a “can-do” attitude, knowledge of ACUI history, and an infectious laugh. They describe him using words like influential, awesome, caring, thoughtful, authentic, positive, delightful, compassionate, supportive, wise, kind, inspiring, and encourage.
A more detailed press release will be available in the coming weeks.
Past Recipients
2020: Dave Barnes, James Madison University
2019: Daniel Maxwell, University of Houston
2018: Kim Harrington, Georgia Institute of Technology
2017: Mark Guthier, University of Wisconsin–Madison
2016: Michael Henthorne, Oregon State University
2015: Marsha Herman-Betzen, ACUI
2014: Whit Hollis, University of Utah
2013: Robert Mindrum, Purdue University
2012: Don Luse, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
2011: Robert Rouzer, University of Illinois–Chicago
2010: Sally Hammock, Georgia Institute of Technology
2009: Bob Rodda, College of Wooster
2008: Donnchadh O'hAodha, National University of Ireland–Cork
2007: Colette Berge, Pikes Peak Community College
2006: Matt Cameron, Santa Clara University
2005: Bernard Pitts, Kansas State University
2004: Meg O’Sullivan, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
2003: Robert Schneeweiss, Central Connecticut State University
2002: Debra Hammond, California State University–Northridge
- 2001: Susan Yung Maul, University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
- 2000: Jay Boyar, Prince George’s Community College
- 1999: Shirley Plakidas, Louisiana State University
- 1998: Gretchen Laatsch, University of Akron
- 1997: J. William Johnston, Northwestern University
- 1996: Neil Gerard, Pomona College
- 1995: Winston Shindell, Indiana University–Bloomington
1984: Phyllis P. Marshall, University of South Florida
- 1994: Joseph H. Benedict Jr., CUNY-Brooklyn College
- 1992: William E. Brattain, Western Illinois University
- 1991: Greer Dawson Wilson, University of Virginia
- 1990: Linda L. Eldred, Indiana State University
- 1989: Dorothy Pijan, Case Western Reserve University
- 1988: LeNorman Strong, George Washington University
- 1987: Adell McMillan, University of Oregon
- 1986: John F. Ketter, University of Northern Iowa
- 1985: Earl Whitfield, California State University–Fresno
1983: Ernest L. Bebb Jr., University of Utah
1982: Ronald C. Barrett, San Jose State University
1981: Gail B. Clay, University of Tennessee
1980: Jack S. Sturgell, University of Delaware
1979: Lyle S. Curtis, Brigham Young University
1978: William D. Scott, University of Houston
1977: Richard D. Blackburn, Indiana University–Bloomington
1976: Shirley Bird Perry, University of Texas–Austin
1975: Edwin O. Sigglekow, University of Minnesota
1974: Boris C. Bell, George Washington University
1973: George F. Stevens, Oregon State University
1972: C. Shaw Smith, Davidson College
1970: Max H. Andrews, Queens College
1970: William E. Rion, University of Florida
1969: Chester A. Berry, Stanford University
1969: Harold E. Pride, Iowa State University
1967: Edgar A. Whiting, Cornell University
1967: Porter Butts, University of Wisconsin
Criteria
The review process includes, but is not limited to, an assessment of the criteria listed below. The nominee must:
- Have attained prominence through their efforts to develop the college union and student activities movement at the regional and association levels through their work within ACUI and on campus;
- Be a person of such integrity, stature, and demonstrated ability that the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of their college will take pride in and be inspired by this recognition;
- Be a person eminently successful on campus, in ACUI, and in the community, with a record of accomplishment that is impressive to the college union and student activities movement;
- Reflect, through deeds and actions, the importance of their position in, loyalty to, and pride in the college union and student activities movement.
Eligibility
Individuals who have participated in the college union and student activities movement as a professional for a minimum of 10 years, who are active in the field at the time of nomination, and who are not previous Butts-Whiting Award recipients are eligible for this award.
Submit
Submission materials must include the following:
- Name, institution, and contact information of the nominee.
- Name, institution, and contact information of the nominator.
- At least one letter in support of the applicant to receive the award written by individual(s) such as direct supervisors/advisors, peers/colleagues, students, faculty members, etc., addressing:
- The achievements of the nominee in the profession.
- The demonstrated commitment of the nominee to the criteria identified for this specific award.
- A summary of the nominee's background to provide evidence that they meet the criteria identified for this specific award, including information related to professional experience and volunteer service—providing a current resume for the nominee is optional.
Note that only one nomination is necessary for a nominee to be considered, and the identity of the nominator will not be disclosed during the selection process.
The nomination period for this award will open in October 2021.
About Porter Butts
Porter F. Butts, often called the “elder statesman” of the college union profession, began his career with the Wisconsin Union at the University of Wisconsin–Madison before its building was built and stayed there for almost 50 years
until his retirement in 1970. He drew on his experience from planning the Wisconsin Union to help more than 100 colleges and universities plan their own union buildings. His name appears throughout the history of the college union movement and particularly
in ACUI’s annals. He attended his first ACUI annual conference at Cornell University in 1926, served as president in 1932, and was editor of publications from 1936–70. He initiated and administered the predecessor of today’s Career
Center, proposed the regional system, started the intercollegiate recreation tournaments, and wrote The College Union Idea. He also wrote the first draft of The Role of the College Union
His commitment to the union philosophy led to his deep interest in the international union movement, which resulted in State of the College Union Around the World, a comprehensive book about unions in 60 countries.
This commitment also led him, along with Edgar Whiting, to persuade federal agencies to include unions in the federal loan program, without which many union facilities never would have been built.
Recently, the Board of Trustees examined an issue raised about Porter Butts, related to his involvement as an undergraduate in a student organization called the Ku Klux Klan. More about the review process and outcome can be found here.
About Edgar Whiting
Edgar Whiting served as ACUI’s secretary-treasurer from 1941–68, helping to make the Association what it is today. Whiting kept the Association books, answered inquiries about unions, wrote to prospective members, produced the annual conference proceedings, and filled publication orders, working from an office in his home during evenings and weekends. After 1963, Whiting ran the employment service that is now the ACUI Career Center. He also arranged and managed the Association’s annual conferences for 20 years, sometimes planning three years in advance. His devotion to excellence and unparalleled leadership service established a model of professionalism highly regarded in the college union field today.
All of this was accomplished during his service as director of Cornell University’s Willard Straight Hall from 1958–70. Previously he was assistant director under Foster Coffin. During the first half of his tenure, Whiting donated his time on a voluntary basis; only during the second half was ACUI able to afford a token stipend for his services. Whiting also served in the U.S. Army from 1944–46 and later reenlisted and served 1950–52.
When he retired from the field in 1971, he received an ACUI honorary membership at the annual conference “for his 40 years of devoted service to the union at Cornell, for his 27 years of incalculable contributions to this association, for the thrusts forward he has given to the union movement by working steadfastly at it with talent and wisdom, and for being the already honorable person and friend he is.”
Selection
Nominators will receive electronic notification confirming receipt of materials. A confidential Butts-Whiting Award Committee, appointed annually by the ACUI president, will review materials to make the selection. Not more than one award will be presented during any year, and an award need not be given every year. One physical award will be given to the recipient, who will be recognized during the closing banquet at the annual conference and in subsequent publications.