Ron Smout Award for Teaching & Mentoring
This award is presented from time to time to an individual who, over a sustained period of years, has provided mentoring and encouragement to a number of financial aid professionals in the RMASFAA region. This person’s guidance often is provided in a quiet, unofficial, and unobtrusive manner, designed solely as a means of teaching and developing leaders among the Association’s members. The Board of Directors selects a recipient via secret ballot at the winter Board meeting, and the recipient is announced and given a plaque at the following Annual Conference. Votes are counted and verified by the President, President-Elect, Past President and Vice President.
| 2002 | Larry Viterna | USA Funds Services (KS) |
| 2003 | M. Bruce Helgerud | University of North Dakota |
| 2004 | Mike Johnson | Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority |
| 2005 | Grant Uecker | Mitchell Technical Institute (SD) |
| 2006 | Myron “Mick” Hansen | University of Montana |
| 2007 | Jeanne Mott | Baker University (KS) |
| 2008 | Sally Schuman | University of Wyoming |
| 2009 | Mary Sommers | University of Nebraska – Kearney |
| 2010 | Sue Weinreis | Montana State University – Billings |
| 2011 | Beverly Bell | University of Wyoming |
| 2012 | Sharon Kienow | Northern State University (SD) |
| 2013 | Robert Walker | Creighton University (NE) |
| 2014 | Deb Henriksen | Black Hills State University (SD) |
| 2015 | Connie Corcoran | Emporia State University (KS) |
| 2016 | Jim Swanson | Colorado College (retired) |
| 2017 | Myra Pfannenstiel | Newman University (KS) |
| 2018 | Janet Riis | Carroll College (MT) |
| 2019 | Art Young | Utah State University |
| 2020 | ||
| 2021 | ||
| 2022 | ||
| 2023 | John Curl | Utah Valley University |