To recognize outstanding long-term contributions in the research areas represented within NASPSPA.
Eligibility
Senior scholars, normally at least 25 years beyond the doctorate, who have a distinguished record of scholarship.
Nature of the Award
Recipients of the award will be given a $1,000 honorarium, a one-time NASPSPA Conference registration fee waiver when the award is presented, a certificate of award, and Emeritus recognition (with a waiver of NASPSPA dues) upon retirement. The honorarium will be paid at the time of the annual conference by the secretary/treasurer, either by check or PayPal. The Board of Directors may extend an invitation to one or more Distinguished Scholars (active or retired) to be Invited Participants (with waiver of Conference fees) at its Annual Conferences. The award will not necessarily be awarded on an annual basis.
Method of Selection
- The selection of an appropriate individual will be the responsibility of the Distinguished Scholar Award Committee (hereafter, the Selection Committee) of NASPSPA.
- The Selection Committee will consist of the President, who will serve as chairperson, plus one representative from each of the areas of Motor Learning/ Control, Motor Development, and Sport and Exercise Psychology. The NASPSPA Board of Directors must approve these representatives, who should be senior, active members of NASPSPA. The term of membership will normally be three years. In the event any committee members have a conflict of interest or are unable to fulfill their full term, variable lengths of term may be used with a goal of having only one member rotate off the committee each year. The names of the Selection Committee members will be known only to the Presidents, the Board of Directors, and the Executive Director.
- An announcement requesting nominations will be made in the Fall Newsletter. Nominations will be made to the Executive Director by the date specified in that newsletter. Any current NASPSPA member may nominate appropriate candidates. The nomination should include a two or three page justification of why the nomination is being made and should be accompanied by the nominee’s curriculum vitae. The Selection Committee is charged with reviewing NASPSPA members for eligibility and nomination of candidate(s). The Communication Director will be responsible to send a reminder to the membership concerning this award four weeks prior to the December 1st deadline.
- In all cases, the nomination(s) should be kept in strictest confidence.
- The Selection Committee, using the nominator’s justification for the nomination, plus any other information that is appropriate (and without informing the nominee of their nomination) will make a decision at least three months prior to the start of the Annual Conference. A simple majority vote is necessary for a recipient to be named. If a favorable vote ensues, the President will notify the nominee and the Executive Director.
Criteria for Selection
Successful candidates must exhibit a level of scholarship that places them at or near the top of scholars actively working in their research area. Regardless of research area, there should be evidence that the individual has consistently contributed high quality scholarship to their area and that this scholarship has had an impact on the knowledge of the field.
Additional Guidelines
- Anyone submitting a nomination or writing a letter of support for a candidate is disqualified from serving on the Selection Committee.
- No member of the Selection Committee may be from the same institution as a nominee, have been the doctoral advisor or advisee of a nominee, or have any other close association that could be interpreted to constitute a conflict of interest.
- If either of the above two restrictions applies to the President (who serves as chair of the Selection Committee), they will refuse to exercise the right to vote in the selection, and the Past-President will replace them on the committee.
- Other letters of recommendation may be solicited as necessary by the President or the Selection Committee.