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Founders Legacy Award

Established in 2004, the Founders Legacy Award recognizes and honors the founding members of the MCPA Affirmative Action Committee: Thelma Cook, Linda Bates-Parker, Tony Proctor, Vance Shaw, and Mike Shin. Through their wisdom, leadership, and perseverance, these five pioneers helped expand access, participation, and opportunity throughout the organization. This award honors their legacy by recognizing a Midwest ACE member who has demonstrated consistent and significant leadership in removing barriers, broadening participation, and creating professional opportunities for all.

All nominations are due October 2, 2026.
The recipient will be announced at the Annual Conference.
SUBMIT A NOMINATION

Recipients:

2025

Andrea White​, Walter Center for Career Achievement Indiana University
2024

Pankaj Desai, Ph.D., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
2023

Hannah Sullivan, University of Dayton
2022

Carmen Umberger, Bradley University
2021

Jennifer Tasneem, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2020

Funmilayo Ojikutu, Northwestern University
2019

Tradara McLaurine, Indiana State University
2015  

Andres Garza, Illinois Institute of Technology
2014

Laura Kestner-Ricketts, Marquette University
2013 Aisha Ghori, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology