AASFAA recognizes members who have shaped our profession and our association, and offers scholarships to help members take part in professional development.
Nominations are currently closed
Nominations for the 2025–2026 awards closed January 31, 2026. Watch this page and your email for the next cycle.
Awards
Rebekah Hoppel Salcedo Rising Star Award
Dedicated to the memory of our friend and past president, Rebekah Hoppel Salcedo, honoring her passion, professionalism, and dedication to student advocacy. Nominees should be financial aid administrators recognized as up-and-coming leaders in the field. The honoree receives complimentary conference registration and an invitation to serve on the AASFAA Board as either a Representative-at-Large or a committee chair.
John Medley Financial Aid Advocacy Award
Given to a member who is a strong advocate for students and works to provide opportunities for education through the financial aid process, demonstrating enthusiasm and unwavering support for the students we serve.
Robert Thompson Memorial Leadership Award
Given to a member who has best demonstrated leadership across their financial aid career, particularly through training and mentoring other association members, sustained over a period of years.
Lifetime Membership
An honor given to a long-time member who has served the financial aid community for many years, mentored financial aid professionals, demonstrated extensive knowledge of aid issues, and exemplifies the very best of AASFAA. Lifetime members receive complimentary membership in perpetuity, regardless of their affiliation with a dues-paying institution.
Scholarships
AASFAA offers limited scholarship opportunities for active members. We encourage everyone to apply — we want to support our members with professional development and networking.
AASFAA Conference Scholarship
The annual conference gives financial aid administrators a chance to learn and connect with institutions of all types and sizes. This scholarship covers conference registration and up to one hotel night. Recipients must be employed at an AASFAA member institution.
One condition: scholarship recipients agree to lead or co-facilitate a conference session, or to volunteer on the Conference Committee, the following year.
2025–2026 Award Recipients
John Medley Financial Aid Advocacy Award
Blanca Ramos, Pima Community College
Robert Thompson Memorial Leadership Award
Caleb Williams, Northern Arizona University
Rebekah Hoppel Salcedo Rising Star Award
Katy Francis, Yavapai College
Honorary Lifetime Member
Jose Dagnino, Central Arizona College
A full list of award recipients (XLSX) going back through the association's history is also available.
Questions about awards or scholarships? Contact the Awards and Scholarships Committee at [email protected].
