Who is eligible to apply for the Pinnacle Award?
Applicants must be members of ASBO International and/or members of an ASBO affiliate, and employed full-time as school business officials by a school district, university, or college. Current members of the ASBO International Board of Directors are not eligible.
Only one person from a school district is eligible to receive a Pinnacle Award each year. If the award submission is a team effort, only the person applying or nominated for the award will be recognized as a candidate.
May I apply for the Pinnacle Award more than once?
Yes, you may apply as many times as you wish.
How many applicants apply every year?
Between 15 and 25 Pinnacle Awards applications are received each year.
What are the benefits of receiving a Pinnacle Award?
Pinnacle of Excellence Award recipients receive
- A check for $5,000.
- An all-expenses-paid trip for the recipient and a guest to ASBO International’s Annual Meeting & Expo, including conference registration.
- $5,000 in school furniture from Virco.
- The prestigious crystal Pinnacle of Excellence Award.
- Recognition at ASBO International’s Annual Meeting & Expo, on the ASBO International website, in School Business Affairs magazine and Accents Online enewsletter, and in ASBO press releases.
Pinnacle of Achievement Award recipients receive
- A check for $1,000.
- Registration to ASBO International’s Annual Meeting & Expo.
- The prestigious crystal Pinnacle of Achievement Award.
- Recognition at ASBO International’s Annual Meeting & Expo, on the ASBO website, in School Business Affairs magazine and Accents Online enewsletter, and in ASBO press releases.
How do I submit application materials and what is the deadline date for submitting?
All application materials must be submitted to
pinnacleawards@asbointl.org no later than May 1.
Will ASBO International notify me when my application has been received?
Yes, we will email candidates when materials are received. If you do not receive notification within one week of submittal, please contact pinnacleawards@asbointl.org.
How do I nominate someone for a Pinnacle Award?
To nominate someone for a Pinnacle Award, complete the
application working directly with the nominee to provide current and accurate information about his or her successful project.
Should each of the required application materials be submitted separately?
Yes, each required document should be submitted as a separate attachment. For example submit your biography as a document, your project summary as a separate document, etc.
May I send additional materials with my application, such as books I have authored or literature about the school district?
No, please submit only required application materials. Additional materials will not be sent to the selection panel.
Who serves on the Pinnacle Award Selection Panel?
An independent panel of judges from various education associations and organizations evaluates the applications. ASBO International staff and ASBO International board members are not permitted to serve on the selection panel.
What does the selection panel look for in an application?
First Assessment
- Are the application materials well-written and of high quality?
- Has the applicant submitted what was required in the requested format?
Second Assessment
- Is this an innovative idea that could be easily be replicated by another school system?
- Did the initiative produce measurable results, such as improvements and/or savings to the school system or an increase in student achievement?
- What differentiates this application from the others? What makes this project stand out?
- Did this project represent a new approach or new way of doing things? Why has it not been done before?
What are the steps in the selection process?
The Pinnacle Award Selection Panel will meet to review applications and select award recipients. ASBO International will notify all applicants of the selection panel’s decisions.
Will all applicants be notified after the selection process?
Yes, all candidates are notified of the selection panel’s decisions.
How are recipients notified?
Award recipients are notified by phone and in writing. If the candidate was nominated, the nominator is notified in writing.
Who else will be notified when I receive the award?
Recipients will be asked to complete a media announcement form listing the individuals and newspapers that should be notified. ASBO International also notifies the appropriate ASBO affiliate executive directors.
What types of media announcements are made?
Your achievement is published in ASBO’s School Business Affairs magazine and Accents Online enewsletter, on the ASBO International website, and in the Pinnacle Awards brochure. ASBO International also produces two press releases: a general release that announces all recipients and a customizable, individual press release for each recipient to distribute as he or she wishes.
In addition, the Pinnacle Awards video, shown during the Pinnacle Awards Ceremony at the Annual Meeting & Expo, and signage at the Annual Meeting & Expo will also announce the award winners.
How is the Pinnacle Award video produced for the Annual Meeting & Expo?
The video producer contacts the Pinnacle Award recipients to request videos, photographs, and any documentation that would enhance the video and better describe each recipient’s project.
Which activities at the Annual Meeting & Expo must Pinnacle Award recipients attend?
Recipients are required to attend three activities at the Annual Meeting & Expo: the Pinnacle Awards Ceremony rehearsal, the Pinnacle Awards Ceremony, and the Pinnacle Awards Dinner, hosted by Virco.
Are family members and colleagues permitted to attend the Pinnacle Awards Ceremony, even if they are not ASBO International members?
Guests may receive a day pass to attend the ceremony if they are not registered as annual meeting participants. Award recipients will be asked to provide ASBO with the names of their guests in advance.
How are the Pinnacle Award checks disbursed?
Pinnacle Award recipients receive their award checks at the Pinnacle Awards Dinner at the Annual Meeting & Expo.