The SIF Excellence Awards recognize outstanding SIF Implementations and promote SIF success stories to the broader education community.  This in turn strengthens the perception of SIF and the SIF Industry as a whole.  The goal of these awards is to honor those organizations in which individuals and teams have done an exceptional job implementing a SIF Solution within their organization and managing the technical and procedural changes necessary for a sustainable implementation. 

There are three categories:
1.  Outstanding LEA/ Horizontal SIF Implementation: Recognizing excellence in LEA or horizontal SIF Implementations.  The Outstanding LEA/ Horizontal Implementation Award recognizes preeminent SIF Implementations at a school district, school, or other educational institution.  The Horizontal Implementation is the integration of multiple applications within one educational institution utilizing the SIF Specifications.
2.  Outstanding SEA/ Vertical SIF Implementation: Recognizing excellence in SEA or vertical SIF Implementations.  The Outstanding SEA/ Vertical Implementation Award recognizes preeminent SIF Implementations at a state, regional entity, or other educational institution that consolidates data from more than one regional entity or school district.  The Vertical Implementation may include the integration of multiple applications at the state or regional level.  It also includes the receipt of data from school districts and potentially the pushing out of data to school districts utilizing the SIF Specifications.
3.  Outstanding Individual Leadership Award:  Recognizing outstanding leadership within an educational organization in successfully implementing a SIF Solution.  The Outstanding Individual Leadership Award recognizes one individual at a state, regional entity, district, school or other educational organization.  This individual must exhibit exemplary leadership skills in implementing a SIF Solution and managing the associated organizational changes within his or her institution.

AWARD RECIPIENTS & RUNNERS UP (click on the name for more information)

OUTSTANDING LEA IMPLEMENTATION (***Award Recipient)

***Pasadena Independent School District
    Pasadena, TX

Mount Pleasant Independent School District
Mount Pleasant, TX

Ramapo Central School District
Hillburn, NY

OUTSTANDING SEA IMPLEMENTATION (***Award Recipient)

***Oklahoma Department of Education - WAVE

Virginia Department of Education

Wyoming Department of Education

INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP AWARD (***Award Recipient)

***Tracy Oliver, Sr. Manager of Data Operations
    Naperville School District 203

Joe Kitchens, Superintendent
 Western Heights Public Schools

James Mc Bride, Superintendent
 Wyoming Department of Education

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JUDGES PANELS

Who submits nominations?
Anyone (school district, state, regional representative, or vendor) can submit a nomination on behalf of an educational institution.  The nominating organization will remain confidential from the judges.

Who can be nominated?
Any educational organization - school, district, regional, or state agency - that has implemented SIF.  There are no limits on when the SIF Implementation occurred. 
Note:  The nominated organization does NOT have to be a member of the SIF Association.

How much does it cost to submit a nomination?
There is no fee for submission.

When are nominations due?
Nominations open for submission on January 13, 2010.  All submissions are due February 22, 2010 at 5 pm PT.  No late submissions will be accepted.

How do I nominate a candidate?
1.  Read the Rules and Category Definitions to determine whether the candidate is eligible for nomination.
2.  Download the Submissions Questions so that you can gather all the application information.
3.  Go to the Nominations Site and enter the information in the online application.

When is the winner announced?
Three finalists will be chosen in each category.  The winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony at the 2010 SIF Association End-User Meeting May 6, 2010 in New Orleans.

What does the winner get?
•  One year free membership to the SIF Association
•  Award representing accolades for winner or winner’s organization
•  Inclusion in a press release by the SIF Association that will have national and local distribution.
•  Inclusion in a feature story in print and online publications

How can I become a judge?
Judges must represent district, regional, or state educational institutions.  If you are interested in participating in the judging process, please act quickly.  There are a limited number of judging positions.  Contact Lisa Marks at lmarks@sifassociation.org for more details.

What can I do to help?
Nominate, nominate, nominate.  Make sure your educational institution or your customers have been nominated to ensure the best SIF Implementations get the recognition they deserve.  Because this is the inaugural year for these awards, it is critical that the broader SIF Community is aware of the awards and has an opportunity to participate.