This is the twelfth year in a row that EAB has recognized outstanding achievements in student success. Awardees are chosen from among the colleges, universities, and individuals that use Navigate360, EAB’s higher education CRM and student success management system, Starfish, the student success platform EAB acquired in 2021, and Edify, EAB’s data management platform.
“EAB partner institutions continue to raise the bar for what student success should look like,” said EAB President, Student Success and Analytics, Scott Schirmeier. “These award winners are combining innovation, data, and dedicated staff in ways that are making a measurable difference for students and creating models other institutions can learn from.”
Read on to see this year’s award winners, past award winners, and award descriptions. For pictures of the winners and other updates from CONNECTED, check out EAB’s LinkedIn page.
Congratulations to our 2026 winners!
CONNECTEDness Award
North Shore Community College, recognized for building connections across the education ecosystem and thoughtfully using AI to support early college students.
Technology Pioneer Award
Ball State University, recognized for its innovative LMS integration and its impact on Navigate360 strategy.
Return on Education Award
Heartland Community College, recognized for achieving measurable gains in first-term success, developmental education outcomes, and college-level Math and English attainment.
Collaborative Citizen Award
PennWest University, recognized for its leadership in the PASSHE Community of Practice and commitment to sharing practices that help peer institutions drive results.
Student Journey Award
University of the Virgin Islands, recognized for improving the student experience and helping shape the future of Enrollment Success.
Data Innovator Award
Coconino Community College, recognized for creative, leading-edge use of data to advance analytics and support better decision-making.
Excellence in Technology Administration Award
Joally Canales, University of Houston–Clear Lake, recognized for exceptional technology administration leadership and cross-campus collaboration.
Visionary Leadership Award
Dawn Matthews, North Carolina Central University, recognized for driving positive change through data-informed support, Navigate360 AI, and campus-wide alignment.
Past Winners
Technology Pioneer Award
- Dallas College
- Utah Tech University
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Sierra College
- Marshall University
- Washburn University
- Trident Technical College
- Baylor University
- Colorado Community College System
- Mercy College
- West Virginia University
- Bakersfield College
- Pepperdine University
Return on Education Award
- South Dakota Mines
- Idaho State University
- Tuskegee University
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- Perimeter College at Georgia State University
- California State University – Fullerton
- State University of New York at Albany
- University of South Alabama
- East Kentucky University
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Pacific Union College
- South Puget Sound Community College
- Lynn University
Collaborative Citizen Award
- Southeast Missouri State University
- University of Missouri
- University of the District of Columbia
- Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
- National Louis University
- Broward College
- University of Delaware
- Cerro Coso Community College
- Elizabeth City State University
- Samford University
- University of Northern Colorado
- Southern Illinois University
- Ramapo College of New Jersey
- Texas Southern University
Excellence in Technology Administration Award
- Carroll Crowson, Baylor University
- Jessica Skipper, University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Jessica Bucher, Tarleton State University
- Dolores Radlo, Lasell University
- John W. Ellenberger, Penn State University
- Pooja Agrawal, University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
Visionary Leadership Award
- Dr. T. Chase Hagood, University of Utah
- Kal Srinivas, Syracuse University
- Janice Stubbs, Broward College
- Stacey Moore, York Technical College
- Lisa Matye Edwards, Arapahoe Community College
- Elizabeth Lambert, Keuka College
- Stacey Bradley, University of South Carolina
- Shawn Utley, Wiregrass Community College
- Melissa Boog, Salisbury University
- Thomas Enders, California State University – Long Beach
- Andy Alt, Bowling Green State University
- Dr. Jose Aviles, Louisiana State University
CONNECTEDness Award
- Hunter College, the City University of New York
- University of Vermont
- Louisiana State University
- Alamo Colleges District
- Central Virginia Community College
- Cerro Coso Community College
- Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College
- Porterville College
- Southeastern Wisconsin Moon Shot Region (University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Carthage College, Milwaukee Area Technical College, University of Wisconsin – Parkside)
- Old Dominion University
- Winthrop University
- York Technical College
Award Types
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Technology Pioneer Award
An institution that is on the leading edge when it comes to use of EAB technology. This can include participating as an alpha partner in new tools and modules, and/or using their platform in an innovative way.
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Return on Education Award
An institution that has driven significant and measurable results/ROI as a part of their EAB Student Success partnership. Quantifiable results are an essential component of this award.
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Collaborative Citizen Award
An institution that selflessly shares their practices and approaches to student success and strives to help their peers succeed. This can include participation in collaborative events, prospect-facing marketing opportunities, crediting EAB at industry conferences, etc.
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Excellence in Technology Administration Award
An individual who has shown exceptional dedication to improving their technology configurations & best practices, and who goes above and beyond in their commitment to student success through the help of EAB technology and contributing to the strength of their tech admin peer community.
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Visionary Leadership Award
An individual who has helped their institution see significant, positive change through, for example: data-informed strategy-setting, staff engagement successful reorganizations, perseverance in the face of significant challenges, etc.
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CONNECTEDness Award
An institution that builds relationships across or beyond institution types, connecting community colleges, four-year schools, employers and/or the broader higher education community.
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Student Journey Award
An institution that connects and improves key elements of the student journey, including enrollment, student success, career outcomes, and/or advancement, through integrated strategy and EAB technology.
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Data Innovator Award
An institution demonstrating creative, leading-edge use of data to advance analytics and support better decision-making.
More Resources
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