Special Honors 

Honors for Service to CMA & Outstanding Achievements

At CMA, we recognize members who go above and beyond the ordinary. Our Special Honors celebrate exceptional service and significant contributions to the association—awards that are presented selectively, at the fall convention annually, to individuals whose impact truly stands out.

These accolades are distinct from our annual award programs: they honor the visionaries, advocates, and changemakers who elevate CMA—whether through exemplary service, advocacy, innovation, or leadership.

Frank LoMonte Ethics in Journalism Award

This award honors journalists, advisers or news organizations that perform in an outstanding ethical manner demonstrating the ideals of CMA’s Code of Ethical Behavior. It may also honor especially notable efforts to educate the public on principles embodied in the code or hold journalists ethically accountable for their behavior. This award is not limited to CMA members.

 
Golden Leaf Memorial Recipients

Inspired by Terry Vander Heyden, deceased CMA vice president for member services, this title was derived from the leaves of trees that are alive and growing and golden to connote richness and quality. The award is named for Heyden, who was the first recipient. The award has been established to honor the memory of deceased members of CMA who have held leadership positions and/or contributed greatly to the goals of the organization.

View Golden Leaf Award Recipients
 
Montgomery Distinguished Service Award

This award is named to honor Reid H. Montgomery, of South Carolina, an influential member of CMA from its earlier days when it was known as the National Council of College Publications Advisers. He retired in 1988 after serving as president and treasurer of the organization, among other duties. He died in 1993.

This award is presented to an individual or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to collegiate media. The award will be made only when meritorious candidates are brought forth.

Recipients of this award are students, faculty members, corporations or non-academic individuals or institutions that have made an extraordinary contribution to journalism or student media advising. This award is not limited to CMA members.

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Ken Nordin Award for College Media Research

This award honors the memory of Ken Nordin, a dedicated CMA member, respected adviser, and chair of the CMA Research Committee. A longtime professor at Benedictine University, Nordin was known for his passion for journalism education, his quiet sense of humor, and his commitment to student media.

Created to recognize excellence in scholarly work, the award is presented to honor the outstanding research in the field of college media each year. It reflects Nordin’s enduring impact on the CMA community and celebrates research that advances understanding and elevates the practice of student journalism.

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Noel Ross Strader Memorial Award 

This award perpetuates the work and memory of a longtime University of Houston professor and administrator in journalism. The award will be made only when meritorious candidates are brought forth.

Recipients are a full-time teacher/adviser in campus journalism and must have exercised the principle of freedom of the press “at some risk to personal or professional welfare” or have made a “major contribution to the graphic or other physical progress of a campus publication.”

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Ron Spielberger Service to CMA Award

This award was established in 2002 to honor CMA’s executive director and longtime fall convention coordinator, Ron Spielberger, in recognition to his first 20 years of dedicated service to the organization.This award is presented to a CMA member who has made an outstanding contribution to the organization.

Recipients of this award have advanced the quality of member services provided by initiating or executing enhancements to CMA conventions, workshops, publications, advocacy, operations and/or new programs.

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Dan Reimold Student Media Champion Award

This award is given to individuals, organizations or institutions who go above and beyond to champion the cause, importance and joy of college media in general. This award is named for Dan Reimold, who died in 2015, for his unwavering support and infectious enthusiasm for college media.

Reimold was a champion of the idea that college media is a space for anyone to learn and develop life skills – not solely those expecting to practice journalism after graduation.