Career Services earns four AACE awards

Rising senior Joseph Morris with his Audiovisual Program award.

Trina Badger

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Office of Career Services returned from the recent Alabama Association of Colleges and Employers (AACE) Summer Conference held in Huntsville with a wealth of knowledge and four awards.

Career Services won awards for:

• AACE Outstanding New Professional, Career Services Senior Coordinator Candace Phillips.
• Audiovisual Program, awarded for the Career Fair Tips & Strategies instructional video produced by student videographer Joseph Morris, a rising engineering senior from Madison.
• Publication, for the Mentor-A-Charger handbook, a guideline for mentors and mentees, which was created after research on best practices in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Relations and designed by the Office of Marketing and Communications team.
• Research Study, for research done by Career Services to decide the type of assessment tools best suited to help undeclared students identify their career focus and the best major to fit that focus.

"Our team was excited to learn that we won four AACE awards," says Phillips. "AACE has members from almost every two- and four-year college or university in the state, so it's an honor to be recognized with so many awards."

Morris, who produced the award-winning video, says winning was a pleasant surprise.

Laura Taylor, Career Services career coordinator, receiving the Research Study award from Jim Greene, AACE president and recruiter at the Jefferson County Personnel Board.

Trina Badger

"The thought of creating videos to win an award never really crossed my mind. I do it because this is the talent I’ve been blessed with," Morris says. "But to be recognized with an official award for something that has been my hobby was one of the most exciting feelings I’ve ever had, and I’m glad to attend a university that has given me opportunities to explore my passion."

Being nominated by her team for Outstanding New Professional was humbling, Phillips says.

"Our Career Services team is an incredibly collaborative group of people, and I'm honored that they chose to submit my name. AACE has been a great organization for us to be involved with and I couldn't have won this award without the support of my team."

The conference offered the Career Services team numerous areas for professional development, Phillips says.

"It's always refreshing to network with other career centers and employers in the state and discuss what's on the horizon for our field. Ultimately, our goal is to learn how we can better serve our students, and we returned from the conference with a wealth of knowledge and ideas. We've gained knowledge from employers that we can pass on to our students, as well as ideas that will help us improve our programs and offerings in the future."