The Gordie Foundation Announces Call For Entries For The 2009 Presidential Leadership Award

The Gordie Foundation and Outside The Classroom have announced the call for nominations for the 2009 Presidential Leadership Award. The $50,000 award recognizes a college or university president who has given freely of time and energy to create an environment where learning and campus life are not undermined by the misuse of alcohol.

The Gordie Foundation was founded by parents Leslie and Michael Lanahan after the loss of their son Gordie Bailey due to an alcohol overdose following a fraternity hazing incident. The Foundation’s sponsorship with Outside The Classroom to support this award will further expand their outreach efforts in informing students, parents, and educational institutions about the dangers of alcohol.

"Every year, a staggering 1,700 college students die of alcohol misuse, and nearly 100,000 more are victims of sexual assault as a result of heavy drinking," said Leslie Lanahan. "We are honored to recognize a strong leader with this award who can actively reduce these shocking statistics by changing the campus environment."

The recipient of the 2009 award will be honored at an award ceremony in Washington, D.C. with a $50,000 donation to his or her institution, and will be given the opportunity to promote environmental change on campuses nationwide via speaking engagements, published articles in higher education journals, and other initiatives. Dr. Jonathan Gibralter of Frostburg State University, the winner of the 2008 award, has demonstrated active leadership on the issue of high-risk drinking since his presidency began in 2006. His willingness to speak out on the issue has catapulted him into the spotlight as a model for college administrators who are fighting the dangerous culture of binge drinking on campuses.

"This is an ongoing battle, and one that must be started again with each new freshman class," said Gibralter. "This award and its ensuing attention has raised awareness and gained us credibility among our students and within our community, where we have the most work to do."

The recipient of the award will be selected by a review panel consisting of former university presidents, as well as representatives from the award development team, including; the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), American Council on Education (ACE), Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), NASPA, Outside The Classroom, The Gordie Foundation, and United Educators.

Nominations may be submitted by any professional staff member, either from the nominee's institution or from a different institution. Nominations for the 2009 Presidential Leadership Award will be accepted through June 30, 2009. To nominate an individual, please visit href="http://www.plaward.com/">www.PLAward.com.