Sally Webb Rising Star Award
About the Award
Do you know someone at your institution who consistently exceeds expectations in academic event planning? Or maybe that person is you—always two steps ahead in your planning, going above and beyond to ensure success. Now’s your chance to shine!
AEP is proud to introduce the inaugural Sally Webb Rising Star Award, honoring an individual who stands out in the academic event planning community. This award celebrates a “rising star”—someone exceptionally hard-working, innovative, and integral to their events team. The recipient is not only a dynamic planner but also someone who wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to attend the AEP Conference due to financial limitations.
In recognition of their excellence, the award winner will receive complimentary registration to the 2025 AEP Conference, held February 23-24, 2025 at Florida International University’s Biscayne Bay Campus, along with two-nights accommodations at the AEP host hotel and up to $500 to cover the cost of their flight to attend the conference (any expenses exceeding this amount will be the responsibility of the recipient).
Award Criteria
Must be a current staff member at an academic institution with at least two years of experience in academic event planning who:
- Demonstrates exceptional performance in their role
- Is not able to attend the AEP Conference without this financial support
- Must be able to attend this year’s conference (February 23-24, 2025 in Florida)
Award submissions will close on Friday, December 13, 2024 at 11:59PM EST.
The winner will be selected by members of the AEP Advisory Board and notified on Monday, January 6, 2025. If the chosen awardee is unable to attend this year’s conference, the runner-up will be awarded this opportunity.
About Sally Webb
This award is named in honor of Sally Webb, a visionary leader and the founder of The Special Event Company (TSEC). Sally saw a critical gap in the academic event space—there was no dedicated platform for professional development, education and networking for academic event planners. In 2006, she took action by creating AEP, a conference to provide access to the tools, resources, and community that academic event professionals needed to create outstanding events.
Sally’s passion for empowering others in the field drove her to ensure that event planners in academia had the support they needed to thrive. Her dedication to excellence and vow to foster this network set the foundation for AEP’s mission. Thanks to her leadership, academic event planners now have a space to learn, connect and grow.
We are profoundly grateful for Sally’s legacy and her unwavering commitment to this community. TSEC continues to uphold her vision, ensuring AEP remains a trailblazer in the field by fostering creativity, connection and professionalism in academic event planning.
Join us in celebrating the legacy of Sally Webb by nominating or applying for this prestigious award!