ACE Alumni Achievement Award
Celebrating you and your achievements.
Honoring You
The American College of Education Alumni Achievement Award is given to an alumnus who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and provided outstanding service to ACE. Created in 2012, it is presented by the academic dean every year during ACE’s commencement ceremony.
All ACE alumni are eligible to receive this award. All nominees must be in graduate status. The award recipient receives a commemorative plaque and the opportunity to speak in-person during the award year’s commencement ceremony.
Nominations are now closed for the 2024 Alumni Achievement Award.
Previous Recipients
2023 | Caitlyn Robinson
M.Ed. in Special Education | 2020
M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership | 2022
Part B, Section 619 Coordinator | Louisiana Department of Education
Founder | SpedTacular Kids of Central and Central Inclusive League
2022 | Dr. Peter Shipley
Ed.D. in Leadership | 2018
Senior Manager of Research, Planning and Curriculum Design Unit | Ontario Provincial Police
Order of Merit recipient from the Governor | General of Canada
2021 | Valerie Gaynor
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership | 2015
Director of education | Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
K-12 science coordinator for Environmental Studies Center | Martin County School District
Jensen Beach, Florida
2020 | Tyler Burklund
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership | 2017
Special education director | Hancock County Educational Service Center
Findlay, Ohio
2019 | David Reichard
M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction | 2019
Mathematics and special education | Seneca Valley High School
2018 | Michael Weissberg
Ed.S. in Leadership | 2018
Adjunct professor | Florida International University and Miami Dade College
2017 | Luis Pentón Herrera
M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction | 2014
Graduate Certificate in English as a Second Language | 2013
Adjunct faculty | University of Maryland University College
2016 | Natalie Pelham
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction | 2014
Adjunct professor | College of Education, University of North Florida
2015 | Justice Stamps
M.Ed. Educational Technology | 2014
Executive director | Marion Nzinga Stamps Literature Academy
Chicago, Illinois
Summer 2014 | Dave Stuart, Jr.
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction | 2014
High school teacher | Cedar Springs High School
Cedar Springs, Michigan
Winter 2014 | Shawn Wigg
M.Ed. Educational Leadership | 2013
Awarded 2013 Florida Governor’s Shine Award for demonstrating excellence in education
Florida Virtual School
Orlando, Florida
Summer 2013 | Samantha Reid
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership | 2013
High school French teacher | St. Elizabeth, Jamaica
Winter 2013 | Kristen Rulison
Master of Education | 2012
Palm Beach County’s Macy’s Teacher of the Year
Reading specialist | Palm Beach County Schools
Palm Beach, Florida
Summer 2012 | Jeremy Heck
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership | 2012
Assistant principal | Indian Oaks Academy
Manteno, Illinois
Alumni Achievement Award FAQs
When is the application deadline?
Who qualifies for the Alumni Achievement Award?
What counts as “exceptional leadership” and “outstanding service” to ACE?
Who determines the award recipient?
What will the award recipient receive?
What is expected of the Alumni Achievement honoree?
Stay Connected to ACE
Meet more ACE alumni and see how they are making a difference.
