Southeast Regional Awards
The Southeast Council is excited to announce the development of three new awards to be given on an annual basis at the regional conference. Below is a brief description of each award. Be on the look out for nominations in early 2008.
 
Rebecca L. Carver ABC's Award
Rebecca Carver was a dedicated and passionate experiential educator. She lost her life to cancer at a very young age but her passion for experiential learning lives on in the students she inspired during her life. Rebecca's work introduced the concept of the ABC's of Experiential Education. Rebecca viewed inspiring Agency, Belonging, and Competence as critical dimensions of the work of experiential educators. In her words:

Agency - represents the developing of students' personal agency - allowing individuals to become more powerful change agents in their lives and communities; increasing individuals' recognition and appreciation of the extent to which the locus of control for their lives is within themselves, and enabling them to use this as a source of power to generate activity.

Belonging - refers to developing and maintaining a community in which individuals share a sense of belonging - see themselves as members with rights and responsibilities, power and vulnerability; and learn to act responsibly, considering the best interests of themselves, other individuals and the group as a whole

Competence - refers to the development of individual competence in a wide variety of areas (cognitive, physical, musical, social, etc.). Developing competence means learning skills, acquiring knowledge and attaining the ability to apply what is learned.

The Rebecca L. Carver Award is presented to an individual who actively promotes Agency, Belonging and Competence through her/his work in Experiential Education.
 
Southeast Organizational Member of the Year Award
 Organizations and members of the Southeast Region have played a significant role in the development of the Association for Experiential Education. This includes an original group of educators assembling in the early 1970s in Boone, NC, to discuss ways in which education could be made more relevant for students. This meeting began the formation process of AEE. Since this time, Southeast Organizational Members have continued to develop, innovate, and maintain outstanding experiential education programs at consistently high standards. The Southeast Organizational Member of the Year Award is the Region's way of recognizing these institutions who have contributed so much to the region. The recipient of the award is recognized to be a leading professional organization in experiential education in the Southeast Region.
 
Southeast Lifetime Service Award
The Southeast Lifetime Service Award is presented to a member practitioner who has made a profound and lasting impact in the field of experiential education in the Southeast. This award is intended to honor those who have made experiential education a lifetime pursuit and passion. The recipient of the award is recognized to be an exemplary professional educator who has significantly contributed to the Southeast Region of AEE. Consistent commitment and support for the work of the region will be a clear trait shown by the recipient.

Inaugural Award Winner
Sandy Kohn, director of UNC Charlotte's Venture Program, was honored as the first recipient of the Southeast Lifetime Service Award. The award was presented at the 2007 Southeast Regional Conference at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte.
 
Sandy served as the convener for the conference, which used the Outward Bound model to present an experienced-based conference.  In addition to convening this conference, Sandy served on three other regional conference host committees and one international conference host committee. He has given more than 26 presentations at regional or international AEE conferences. He also served on the Southeast Regional Council from 1996-1999, as treasurer and chair. Sandy is active in the AEE accreditation program, helping Venture maintain accreditation as well as being an active reviewer.
 
The Southeast Council is proud to make Sandy the inaugural award winner of the Lifetime Service Award. Be sure to be thinking about future award winners for the 2008 regional conference.