The Alabama Communication Association is proud to present several awards at its annual conference each year.

Nominations for the 2024 ACA Award for Outstanding Teaching and the John H. Saunders Service Award are open until June 1, 2024. Please send all nominations to Dr. Niya Miller (ACA President) at nmiller@samford.edu.

ACA Award for Outstanding Teaching

The ACA Award for Outstanding Teaching recognizes individuals who demonstrate excellence in teaching communication in Alabama.

Eligible nominees must be employed full-time teaching courses in communication with the state of Alabama.

Eligible nominees may teach at any level (e.g., K-12, community college, university). In order to encourage nominations and recognize excellence in teaching at all types of institutions, the award committee may present awards to individuals at different academic levels.

Nominations, including self-nominations, require the following materials: 1) a single letter of nomination, 2) the nominee’s current curriculum vitae, and 3) a teaching philosophy statement not to exceed 500 words. Other materials, including evidence of teaching effectiveness and supporting letters, may be submitted but are not required.

John H. Saunders Service Award

Named for ACA Founder John H. Saunders, the John H. Saunders Service Award recognizes those who have actively created opportunities for others to use their voice. This could include those who have made a significant contribution to growing the ACA, faculty who have encouraged their students to present, faculty who have driven their students to conferences, faculty who create assignments meant for students to engage people beyond their classroom, and those who have created opportunities for faculty, students, and professionals to engage others outside of their own environments.

Nominations, including self nominations, require the following materials: 1) a single letter of nomination, 2) the nominee’s curriculum vitae, and 3) a statement outlining specific activities related to service such as supporting the growth of ACA, supporting students or creating opportunities for students to engage with those outside of their own environment. The statement should not exceed 500 words. Other materials, including supporting letters, may be submitted but are not required.

ACA Top Paper Awards

The ACA Top Paper Awards are awarded to the top faculty, graduate student, and undergraduate papers submitted to the ACA’s annual conference. Two top undergraduate papers are recognized with the Bradley-Bryant Top Undergraduate Student Paper Awards, named for Dr. Bert Bradley, who was a professor emeritus of Communication at Auburn University, and Dr. Jennings Bryant, who was a professor emeritus of Communication at the University of Alabama. Both scholars were well regarded for their contributions to the discipline of Communication Studies here in Alabama, and for their dedication to their students.