Awarded annually to a victim services practitioner who has exhibited a significant pioneering and innovative spirit in developing services or programs beyond the scope of currently accepted practice.

Criteria for receiving this award:

1. Have exhibited a significant pioneering and innovative spirit in developing services or programs beyond the scope of currently expected practice. Significance is defined as having long-term commitment to a program through successes and failures, having high ethical values and behaviors, and provision of mentoring. Significance is also indicated by broad-based victim services provision with an advanced understanding of victim trauma, and legislative work in the area of crime victims’ rights.
2. This award should be given to a person who has achieved a high level of mastery in their career as an American victim service practitioner such that at least the previous ten years has been devoted full-time to the field of victimology/victim services.
3. The award will be given without regard to race, gender, ethnic background, religion, country of origin, political or sexual orientation.

Recipients

2005 -- Edward R. Stout (posthumous)

2006 -- Carroll Ann Ellis

2007 -- Kathy Manis-Findley

2008 -- Karen McLaughlin

2009 -- Jane Nady Sigmon

2010 -- Sharon D'Eusanio