June 26, 2009

Recognizing our Best!

MCA has given awards to their distinguished colleagues since 1979 when the first award was given to Frank Wood as our first “Corrections Person of the Year.” This award category continues today with 30 recipients. 

Other award categories over the years have included President’s Award, Correctional Counselor, Professional Achievement, Board of Directors, and two Special Recognition awards. The Special Recognition awards were both given to State Legislators whose consistent and ongoing support of corrections issues was greatly appreciated.  Senator Allen Spear was the recipient in 1992 and Representative Mary Murphy in 1998.

Minnesota does have a good reputation in the field of corrections. MCA should be promoting our best of the best. MCA is an affiliate member of both APPA and ACA.  As a result, we took our 2008 award winners and fit them into these national organizations’ award categories.  

Your MCA Board nominated both Joe Arvidson and Joyce Knowlton for the APPA’s Scotia Knouff Line Officer of the Year award. This is APPA’s most competitive award and perhaps the most prestigious practitioner award offered by APPA. Both Joe and Joyce have performed in an outstanding manner that deserves national attention.

Your MCA Board also nominated DOC’s EMPLOY program for ACA’s Exemplary Offender Program Award. This nomination required a great deal of additional documentation of program mission, goals, outcomes, and ability to be replicated in other jurisdictions. We are pleased to be able to recognize their work nationally with this nomination.

• Corrections Person of the Year – This award goes to an individual who has an outstanding contribution to the field of corrections. The individual does not need to be employed in corrections.


• Professional Achievement Awards – There are two awards in this category. One goes to an individual in field services and the other in institutions. It is for individuals who have demonstrated achievement over a period of time, but should not exclude professionals who have displayed outstanding achievement.


• President’s Award – This award is given to programs, resources or facilities that work in the broad field of corrections and criminal justice, which demonstrate creativity, resourcefulness, effectiveness, and innovation.


• Board of Directors’ Award – This award involves recognizing an individual who has made significant contributions to MCA as an organization.  

All award nominations will be reviewed by the Awards Committee.  This committee consists of the last five MCA Presidents, chaired by the Past President. The committee this year consists of:  Terryl Arola- Chair, Pat Booker, Tom Roy, Chuck Ness, and Dennis Miller.