Awarded to a public relations professional, president, higher education advocate, public official or outstanding faculty or staff member who exemplifies CUPRAP’s fundamental purposes of supporting and advancing the understanding of higher education. The award is named in honor of Arthur V. Ciervo, founder and first president of CUPRAP.

Previous Recipients:

2023
John D. Simon, previous president of Lehigh University

2022
Tom Foley, president, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Pennsylvania

2021
Not awarded

2020
Dr. Jonathan D. Green, president, Susquehanna University

2019
Dr. Ali Houshmand, president, Rowan University

2018
Dr. Thomas R. Kepple Jr., president, Juniata College

2017
Dr. Lex O. McMillan III, president, Albright College

2016
Ira Harkavy, associate VP and founding director of the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships, University of Pennsylvania

2015
Jon Jay DeTemple, president, Harcum College

2014
James T. Harris III,   president, Widener University

2013
Rob McCord, treasurer, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

2012
Chaka Fattah, U.S. congressman

2011
Chris Borick, associate professor of political science and director of the Institute of Public Opinion, Muhlenberg College

2010
Nicholas Neupauer, president, Butler County Community College

2009
Tom A. Tenges, executive director, Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges

2008
Don L. Francis, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP)

2007
Sean OKeefe, chancellor of Louisiana State University

2006
Mark S. Schweiker, 44th governor of Pennsylvania; president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

2005
Roland King, vice president for public affairs at National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Washington, D.C.

2004
Terry W. Hartle, senior vice president and director of government and public affairs, American Council on Education

2003
Sally Stroup, assistant secretary of postsecondary education, U.S. Department of Education

2002
Elnetta Jones, Shippensburg University

2001
Mary Ann Eisenreich, Pennsylvania Women Work

2000
Bill Goodling, U.S. congressman, 19th District, Pennsylvania

1999
James H. McCormick, chancellor, State System of Higher Education

1998
Not awarded

1997
John Kirkpatrick, publisher and editor, Harrisburg Patriot-News

1996
Richard P. Richter, president emeritus, Ursinus College

1995
Roger Williams, associate vice president for communications, Georgetown University

1994
Kenneth R. Reeher, retired president and CEO, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency

1993
Gary B. Young, president, Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities

1992
Nicholas Colafella, chair, House Subcommittee on Higher Education, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

1991
Harris Wofford, Pennsylvania secretary of labor and industry

1990
Thomas J. Moran, Luzerne County Community College

1989
James Gallagher, Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science

1988
Don Hale, Carnegie Mellon University

1987
Mary Ann Aug, University of Pittsburgh

1986
James Ream, Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities