The Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling’s Newcomer Recognition Award was inaugurated in 1987, to recognize significant contributions of those members with fewer than five years’ involvement with IACAC. In 2004, the IACAC Executive Board renamed the award in honor of James A. Alexander. Jim was NACAC President in 1979, recipient of the Patricia A Kasowski award in 1986, and the NACAC Gayle C. Wilson Service to Education Award winner in 1991. While I was never able to meet James, he was described as incredibly knowledgeable, dedicated, and empowering. He wanted to share his expertise to help us all serve our students better. I’m told he consistently went out of his way to welcome and engage with new members. And so, this award was re-named in his honor and I am pleased to be able to recognize this year’s James Alexander Newcomer Award Recipients:

Our last recipient of the newcomer awards hasn’t been in IACAC long, but has already made an impact. One nominator talks about how this person’s leadership skills and advocacy make them the perfect person to be recognized today. This person is not only active with IACAC, but in ISCA as well-a testament to their hard work , commitment to students, and energy and passion for our profession. Their connection with IACAC started when the recipient’s school was a Project Reach recipient, and it’s been so amazing to watch as they continued their involvement with two committees who have a lot in common. This person is a strong advocate, described as a rising star and one to watch and she pursues her passion of access and advocacy for the students at her school and in the state of Illinois. She has played an integral part in making sure the IAS and Government Relations committees work together this year, and was able to connect her work with ISCA and IACAC seamlessly for a joint advocacy day earlier this year. Diana Mondragon, I am so proud to award you our final James A. Alexander newcomer award for 2021!