The M.A. McGhehey Award

Distinguished Service

The M.A. McGhehey Award recognizes outstanding service in the field of education law and to the Education Law Association. The award is named after Marion A. McGhehy (1921-1982) who served as president in 1961, and then as executive director from 1962 to 1982 of ELA in its original incarnation as the National Organization on Legal Problems in Education (NOLPE), and who also led both the Indiana School Boards Association and the Kansas Association of School Boards.

Purpose

The M.A. McGhehey Award recognizes outstanding service in the field of education law and to the Education Law Association. Eligibility ELA members, living or deceased.

Criteria

The individual receiving the award must have a long history of service to the Education Law Association. The individual’s work must have had an impact nationally in the field of law and education. Such impact may be evidenced through a history of publications, recognized excellence in legal practice, widely-respected advocacy, teaching, or leadership that advances the field, and other significant contributions to the study, teaching, or practice of education law.

Nomination

Submit a nomination letter that addresses the McGhehey Award criteria. The discussion of contributions to the field should include specific publications, presentations, and other accomplishments, and the discussion of service to ELA should identify specific committees and leadership roles. Submit nominee’s current CV with education law contributions highlighted. Additional letters of support may be provided to the committee. Members of the sub-committee can make nominations themselves.

Please submit the Please submit the nomination through the new Proposal Portal.

Selection

The McGhehy Award Subcommittee of ELA’s Awards Committee reviews and evaluates submissions McGhehy Award and selects the award recipient if one is granted for the year.

Award

The award recipient will be presented with an award plaque during the ELA Annual Conference.

Past Recipients

2024 Jennifer Sughrue
2023 Wayne D. Haglund
2022 R. Craig Wood (Florida) (Deceased)
2021 Christopher P. Borreca
2020 No award
2019 Lynn Rossi Scott
2018 Patrick D. Pauken
2017 William E. Thro
2016 Lois F. Berlin
2015 Susan G. Clark
2014 Richard Fossey
2013 P. Tyson Bennet
2012 No award
2011 David M. Schimmel
2010 Terrence Leas
2009 R. Craig Wood (Virginia)
2008 Allan G. Osborne
2007 M. David Alexander
2006 Philip T.K. Daniel
2005 Rick Dickinson
2004 Ralph D. Mawdsley
2003 Jeffrey J. Horner
2002 Charles J. Russo
2001 Clifford P. Hooker
2000 Perry Zirkel
1999 D. Parker Young
1998 John Lewis
1997 Nelda Cambron-McCabe
1996 Joseph C. Beckham
1995 August W. Steinhilber
1994 Floyd G. Delon
1993 Martha L. Ware (Deceased)
1992 Martha M. McCarthy
1991 Kelly Frels
1990 Stephen B. Thomas
1989 Walter L. Hetzel
1988 M. Chester Nolte
1987 Irving C. Evers (Deceased)
1986 E. Edmund Reutter, Jr.
1985 Roger M. Shaw (Deceased)
1984 Reynolds C. Seitz