Leigh Ryan

at the NCPTW at Mt. Holyoke College

The Ron Maxwell Leadership Award is given to a professional in the organization who has contributed with distinction to undergraduate student development through promoting collaborative learning among peer tutors in writing.

Such leadership may be demonstrated in a variety of ways, including but not limited to:

• the individual's record in bringing peer tutors to present at the Conference
• service to the organization through hosting the Conference, serving as program chair, leading in the search for future sites, etc.
• aiding students in the assumption of increasing responsibility for their learning
• fostering leadership skills among peer tutors
• showing evidence of leadership in collaborative learning on one's home campus
• developing innovative peer tutoring programs in the home community
• in general, welcoming and meeting new challenges in leading a center guided by a collaborative learning philosophy

A small awards committee consisting of several recent hosts of the Conference, Jon Olson and Ron Maxwell, solicits nominations, reviews the candidates, and chooses an annual recipient. The Penn State Center for Excellence in Writing, directed by Jon Olson,  serves as administrator of the award. Annual expenses of the award--a plaque and a modest cash prize for the recipient--are covered by Ron and Mary Maxwell through the endowment.

See Call for Nominations

See Past Recipients

 

Deadline for Nominations: August 31, 2010

The NCPTW Ron Maxwell Leadership Award is given annually to a professional in the National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing organization who has contributed with distinction to undergraduate student development through promoting collaborative learning among peer tutors in writing. The award recognizes an individual for dedication to and leadership in collaborative learning within writing centers, for aiding students in taking on more responsibility together for their learning, and thus for promoting the work of peer tutors. Its presentation also denotes extraordinary service to the evolution of this conference organization.

Such leadership may be demonstrated in a variety of ways, including but not limited to

· Building a record of bringing peer tutors to present at the Conference

· Giving service to the NCPTW through hosting the Conference, serving as program chair, leading in the search for future sites, etc.

· Fostering leadership skills among peer tutors

· Showing evidence of leadership in collaborative learning on the home campus

· Developing innovative peer tutoring programs in the home community

· In general, welcoming and meeting new challenges in leading a center guided by a collaborative learning philosophy

While other aspects of a candidate's professional performance-e.g., work with professional tutors, writing center research and publication-are respected by the NCPTW and are surely interrelated, this award is intended to recognize meritorious work in an area too little acknowledged.

Selection Process: An awards committee (consisting of past award recipients and Ron Maxwell) reviews nominations and chooses an annual recipient. A plaque and a $200 cash prize are funded by an endowment from Ron and Mary Maxwell.

Nomination Process: Send nominations by August 31, 2010, to Jon Olson via email <jeo3@psu.edu>, fax (814) 863-9627, or a letter addressed to Maxwell Award, Center for Excellence in Writing, 206 Boucke Building, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802-5900. Consult <http://www.ncptw.org> or call (814) 865-9243 for more information. Please provide the nominee's name, title, affiliation, postal address, email address, and phone number. This call is to professional colleagues of the nominees and to peer tutors. Support the nomination with as much persuasive evidence as time permits, knowing the importance of helping your nominee stand out among other deserving nominees.

Award History: At the 1997 NCPTW in Lexington, KY, Maxwell received a plaque from the conference organizers in recognition of his leadership in the organization. Twila Yates Papay of Rollins College received similar recognition at the 1998 NCPTW in Plattsburgh, NY. Maxwell's endowment ensured that such recognition would continue, and the NCPTW board insisted that the award bear the Maxwell name. Molly Wingate of Colorado College received the inaugural 1999 NCPTW Ron Maxwell Leadership Award. Jean Kiedaisch of University of Vermont received the award in 2000, Kevin Davis of East Central University in 2001, Ben Rafoth of Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2002, Jean Donovan Sanborn of Colby College in 2003, Harvey Kail of University of Maine in 2004, Kathleen Shine Cain and Michael Rossi of Merrimack College in 2005, Michele Eodice of University of Oklahoma in 2006, and Susan Dinitz of University of Vermont in 2007, Jon Olson of the Pennsylvania State University in 2008, and Leigh Ryan of the University of Maryland in 2009.