The Division for Early Childhood

The J. David Sexton Doctoral Student Award is given to a DEC member and doctoral level student who has made contributions to young children with special needs and their families through their efforts in research, higher education, publications, policy, and information dissemination.

This award is named in honor of J. David Sexton because of his passionate commitment to doctoral leadership preparation. David was revered as an outstanding mentor by those who were fortunate to learn from and with him. The Sexton award is given to a doctoral student who embodies the leadership characteristics David possessed and worked unselfishly to nurture in others.

The doctoral student award is supported by David’s colleagues, friends, and family to ensure his contributions to DEC and to leadership preparation live on through a new generation of scholars and leaders in our field.

Nominees for the J. David Sexton Award shall meet the following criteria:

• Students must be enrolled at the time of nomination in a doctoral degree program in early intervention, early childhood special education, or other disciplines related to service for young children with special needs and their families. 
• Students may be nominated who will be graduating from a pre-service program the Spring or Summer prior to the Fall conferring of the award.
• Student must be a DEC member.
• Student portfolios will be reviewed for activities experienced during their current graduate program using the following criteria:
  1. Demonstrated scholarship as evidenced by a 3.5 grade point average.
  2. Level of involvement in research related activities such as grant writing, grant awards, data collection activities, data analysis activities, and research project development, coordination, and/or implementation.
  3. Level of involvement in teaching at the college/university level.
  4. Level of involvement in writing manuscripts for publication, e.g., published manuscripts, manuscripts submitted for publication, written project reports disseminated to professional groups, and manuscripts in progress.
  5. Level of involvement in local, state/provincial, and national or international presentations, workshops, and in services.
  6. Level of involvement in policy development through active membership in organizations committed to helping young children and their families at the local, state/provincial, and or national and international level.

To nominate an individual for the J. David Sexton Award:

1.         Review the nomination criteria identified above.

2.         Prepare a nomination portfolio that contains:

• letter of nomination indicating the award for which the person is being nominated and an overview of the individual’s accomplishments related to the criteria established for the award
• two additional letters of nomination.   These two letters of nomination must be from two faculty members in the program in which the degree is to be awarded.  These letters should provide evidence of the student’s skills in college level or research experiences in early intervention and/or early childhood special education
• the student’s resume or vita
• a 300-400 word summary of professional philosophy and goals written by the student

Nominations are due July 15, 2013.   Email nomination portfolios to  laurie.dinnebeil@utoledo.edu.