The Rising Star Award recognizes an up-and-coming communication professional at a two-year community or technical college. This individual has demonstrated special creativity or ability in college communications and shows evidence of a promising future in this field of work. Emphasis is placed on accomplishments within the past year.
The Rising Star Award is presented annually in each of NCMPR’s seven districts, and district winners are then considered for the national award. The district Rising Star winner will receive a full conference stipend for their registration to attend the 2025 national conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.
A nominee must be a member of NCMPR in good standing at the time of nomination and must have worked full time in any aspect of community college marketing and communications for at least one year and not more than five years.
A previous recipient of the district Rising Star of the Year Award may not be nominated again for the award.
Members of the board of directors may not be considered for this award while they remain in office. However, they may nominate a colleague for the award. If they do, they may not participate in the selection process.
Those nominating individuals for the Rising Star of the Year Award must be a member of NCMPR or affiliated with a member college. A member college may submit only one nomination each year.
Self-nominations may be submitted for the Rising Star Award with a letter of support from the nominee's direct supervisor.
A nomination application must be completed online.
District 1:
Jonathan Fonseca, District 1 Director
Cape Cod Community College, MA
(774) 330-4651 |[javascript protected email address]
District 2:
Erica Marye, District 2 Director
Kentucky Community & Technical College System
(859) 256-3286 | [javascript protected email address]
District 3:
Victoria Monterio, District 3 Director
Cuyahoga Community College, OH
(216) 987-4826 | [javascript protected email address]
District 4:
Andrew Valdez, District 4 Director
Alamo Colleges District, TX
(210) 485-0062 | [javascript protected email address]
District 5:
Kristin Kollbaum, District 5 Director
Northwest Iowa Community College
(712) 631-5634 | [javascript protected email address]
District 6:
Mandy Heil, District 6 Director
Arizona Western College
(928) 314-9594 | [javascript protected email address]
District 7:
Marisa Pierce, District 7 Director
Skagit Valley College, WA
(360) 416-7957 | [javascript protected email address]
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