Awards & Honors

Each year the College honors individuals who have contributed to the fields of justice and safety through their careers and contributions to society. The culmination of these award presentations is the Colleges Night of Distinguished Professionals held each spring to honor these award recipients.
- Distinguished Professional Award
- This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions as practitioners in the areas of justice and safety at the regional, national or international level.
Past recipient of this award are:
2009 – Dr. Lee Brown, “The Father of Community Policing”
2008 – Shay Bilchik, Director, Center for Juvenile Justice Reform
2007 – Anthany Beatty, Chief, Lexington Division of Police
2006 – Hal Rogers, U.S. Fifth District Congressman
2005 – Dr. David Boyd, Deputy Director of Systems Engineering and Development for the Department of Homeland Security
2004 – Sarah Hart, Director of the National Institute of Justice
2003 – Dr. Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Truett A. Ricks Award
- Named after the first dean of the College, this award recognizes outstanding contributions to justice and safety in Kentucky over an extended period of time.
Past recipients of this award are:
2009 – Cookie Crews, Warden, Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women
2007 Alecia Webb-Edgington, Executive Director, KY Office of Homeland Security
2006 Michael K. Nalley
2005 Stephen T. Smith
2004 Dr. John Bizzack
2002 Cheryl Roberts
2001 Sec. Robert Stephens
2001 Lt. Col. Lewis Babb, Jr. - Distinguished Alumnus Award
- The Alumni Society annually sponsors the EKU College of Justice & Safety Distinguished Alumni Award. This award is presented to a graduate of the College who has distinguished him or herself within the fields of justice and safety. Contributions and/or achievements in both professional and civic areas are reviewed.
Past Recipients of this award are:
2009 – Tim James
2008 – Kathy Black-Dennis
2007 Maxine Grossinger
2006 Chief Gary Shane Ray
2005 Dr. Pam Collins
2004 Bob Hendricks
2002 Mitchell Smith
2001 R. Paul McCauley
2000 Rebecca Langston
1999 Tommy Norris
1998 R. Allen Smith
1997 Fred Alley, Jr.
1996 Kathy W. Frederich
1995 Charles E. Johnson
1994 Helen M. Eigenberg
1993 Charles R. Lewis
1991 Jerry W. Lovitt
1990 Victor Kappeler
1989 Fred H. Otto, III
1988 Steven T. Adwell
1987 Robert C. McKinney
1986 Edwin E. Miller - Deans Award
- This award is given at the discretion of the Dean of the College of Justice & Safety to an individual in recognition of their dedication to a particular area in the justice and safety fields.
Past recipients of this award are:
2009 – Chief Ron Coleman
2008 – Dr. Bruce Wolford
2007- James E. Ted Bassett III
2006 Dr. Emily Craig
2005 Mrs. Pat Byron
2004 Mr. Joseph Famularo (posthumously)


