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Save the date for our 2026 conference: July 20-23 at Fuqua School of Business!
Awards
Each year, we recognize the outstanding efforts of alumni relations professionals and programs at member schools that are setting the standard for innovation, engagement, and impact. These annual awards celebrate best practices, creative initiatives, and the dedication of those who strengthen alumni connections and advance our industry.
2026 nominations
Nominations will launch in spring 2026, and winners will be honored at the conference in July. Each winning school will receive one complimentary registration for the following year’s conference. Learn more about ABSAP’s awards and the nomination process.
2026 nominations
Nominations will launch in spring 2026, and winners will be honored at the conference in July. Each winning school will receive one complimentary registration for the following year’s conference. Learn more about ABSAP’s awards and the nomination process.
PAST WINNERS
Year | Award Category | School / Institution | Initiative / Individual |
|---|---|---|---|
2025 | Exemplary Alumni Relations Partnership | Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley) | Partnership with DEI Team |
2025 | Sustained Excellence | Smeal College of Business (Penn State) | Smeal Impact Day |
2025 | Most Innovative Initiative | Owen Graduate School of Management (Vanderbilt) | Event-in-a-Box |
2025 | Most Improved Alumni Relations | Wisconsin School of Business (UW Madison) | Project Redprint |
2025 | Outstanding New Professional | The Wharton School (UPenn) | Brielle Sneed |
2025 | Janice Headley Outstanding Service to ABSAP Award | Ross School of Business (Michigan) | Caitlin Johnson |
2024 | Most Improved Alumni Relations Initiative | USC Marshall School of Business | Graduate Programs Reunion Weekend |
2024 | Most Innovative New Initiative | Smeal College of Business (Penn State) | Smeal in Your City |
2024 | Outstanding Partnership | Foster School of Business (UW) | 23rd Annual Celebration of African American Alumni Achievement |
2023 | Most Improved Alumni Relations Initiative | Mendoza College of Business (Notre Dame) | Mendoza Rally |
2023 | Most Innovative New Initiative | Tippie College of Business (Iowa) | Life Lessons Webinar Series |
2023 | Outstanding Partnership | Jones Graduate School of Business (Rice) | Student trek alumni event partnership |
2022 | Most Improved Alumni Relations Initiative | Tippie College of Business (Iowa) | Tippie Women Summit |
2022 | Most Innovative New Initiative | McCombs School of Business (UT Austin) | Board and Council Leader Exchange |
2022 | Outstanding Partnership | Wisconsin School of Business (UW Madison) | "Trusted to Lead" Brand Campaign |
2022 | Outstanding New Professional | Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley) | Loren Fentroy |
2022 | Outstanding New Professional | Krannert School of Management (Purdue) | Stacey Sharp |
2021 | Most Improved Alumni Relations Initiative | Robert H. Smith School of Business (Maryland) | Maryland Smith Women Inspire |
2021 | Most Innovative New Initiative | Owen Graduate School of Management (Vanderbilt) | Owen Forward |
2021 | Outstanding Partnership | Leeds School of Business (CU Boulder) | COVID-19 / Faculty Webinar Series |
2021 | Outstanding New Professional | Mendoza College of Business (Notre Dame) | Ryan Retartha |
2019 | Most Innovative New Initiative | Wisconsin School of Business (UW Madison) | Alumni Voice Panel |
2019 | Most Improved Alumni Relations Initiative | W. P. Carey School of Business (Arizona State) | Back to Class |
2019 | Outstanding Partnership | Robert H. Smith School of Business (Maryland) | Smith on the Road Featuring Dingman Bootstrapped |
2019 | Outstanding New Professional | Tippie College of Business (Iowa) | Ashley Durham |
2019 | Outstanding New Professional | Jones Graduate School of Business (Rice) | Kyle Rowland |
2019 | Outstanding Service to ABSAP | Fuqua School of Business (Duke) | Katie Thomasson |
2018 | Most Improved Alumni Relations Initiative | Leeds School of Business (CU Boulder) | "Leeds Business Insights" |
2018 | Outstanding Partnership | Stanford Graduate School of Business | "B School Disrupt" |
2018 | Most Innovative New Initiative | Carlson School of Management (Minnesota) | "LGBT+ Alumni Reunion" |
2018 | Outstanding New Professional | Tepper School of Business (Carnegie Mellon) | Jessie Lehosky |
2017 | Most Improved Alumni Relations Initiative | Leeds School of Business (CU Boulder) | "Alumni eNews Renovation" |
2017 | Outstanding Partnership | Tepper School of Business (Carnegie Mellon) | "Reunion Gift Campaign" |
2017 | Most Innovative New Initiative | Robert H. Smith School of Business (Maryland) | "Management in a Minute" |
2017 | Outstanding New Professional | Booth School of Business (Chicago) | Sarah Bivens |
2017 | Outstanding Service to ABSAP | Booth School of Business (Chicago) | Tracy McCabe |
2016 | Most Improved Alumni Relations Initiative | McCombs School of Business (UT Austin) | "40 Hours for 40 Acres" Campaign |
2016 | Most Innovative New Initiative | McCombs School of Business (UT Austin) | "Texas 12 Dinners" Program |
2016 | Outstanding Partnership | Smeal College of Business (Penn State) | "Change of Location" Project |
2016 | Outstanding New Professional | Stern School of Business (NYU) | Sandy Gelinas |
2015 | Most Improved Alumni Relations Initiative | Ross School of Business (Michigan) | |
2015 | Most Innovative New Initiative | Mendoza College of Business (Notre Dame) | |
2015 | Outstanding Partnership | George Washington University School of Business | |
2015 | Outstanding New Professional | Booth School of Business (Chicago) | Jennifer Mihalek |
2015 | Outstanding Service to ABSAP | Tepper School of Business (Carnegie Mellon) | John Sengenberger |
2014 | Most Improved Alumni Relations Initiative | Tepper School of Business (Carnegie Mellon) | Reunion Weekend |
2014 | Outstanding Partnership | George Washington University School of Business | Capitol Advertising Program |
2014 | Outstanding New Professional | Goizueta Business School (Emory) | Adrienne Jaroch |
2014 | Outstanding Service to ABSAP | Kelley School of Business (Indiana) | Janice Headley |
2013 | Most Improved Alumni Relations Initiative | Paul Merage School of Business (UC Irvine) | New Graduate Engagement Program |
2013 | Most Innovative Initiative | George Washington University School of Business | Volunteer Stewardship Letter Process |
2013 | Outstanding Partnership | Tepper School of Business (Carnegie Mellon) | Tepper Alumni Magazine App |
2013 | Outstanding New Professional | Foster School of Business (UW) | Megan Rasmussen |
2013 | Outstanding Service to ABSAP | College of Business (Florida State) | Leslie Mille |
2012 | Most Improved Alumni Relations Initiative | Kelley School of Business (Indiana) | Industry Connections Event |
2012 | Most Innovative Initiative | Kelley School of Business (Indiana) | Future Alumni Leaders Banquet |
2012 | Outstanding New Professional | Tepper School of Business (Carnegie Mellon) | Meghan Bollens |
2012 | Outstanding New Professional | Kelley School of Business (Indiana) | Mike Schmeckebier |
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