In a happy turn of events, Regan Kenyon presented the Gourley Award to longtime SSATB staffer and veteran Annual Meeting coordinator Melanie Williams. Presented each year to an educator “whose interest in students and concern for colleagues is an inspiration to those who serve in admission,” SSATB broke tradition in giving the award to the deserving Williams–known to many as “Mel.”

Surprised and moved, Melanie accepted the award, and remarked on how wonderful it was to look over the sea of faces in the room, both familiar and new, all gathered in the interest of advancing the admission profession and enjoying the collegial atmosphere promoted at the meeting. As she passes on her Annual Meeting responsibilities to a new group of staffers, her hard work will prove an inspiration. She assumes her new role as SSATB Director of Member Relations with an eye toward continued support of admission professionals.