National Association for Student Activities

The Earl Reum Award

We salute the CURRENT (2025) Regional Nominees...

Brenda O'Shea

EASTERN REGION - NEW YORK

Brenda O’Shea is Coordinator of Student Life at Somers High School in Somers, NY. She has been an educator for 24 years, 22 of them being involved with Student Activities. Brenda has organized and co-chaired several student and advisor leadership conferences for the New York State Council on Leadership and Student Activities (NYS-CLSA). She was named the 2017 NYS-CLSA State Advisor of the Year and became the Region 2 Warren E. Shull Award recipient in 2018. Brenda attended her first NCSA in 2014, was part of the organizing committee for NCSA 2015 in Niagara Falls, NY, and has been actively involved in every NCSA since 2019. Brenda was appointed to the NA4SA Board of Directors in 2021, currently serving as Treasurer and Conference Committee chairperson. In 2023, she was appointed as State Executive Director for NYS-CLSA. This is the first time that Brenda has been recognized as a Regional Earl Reum Award recipient.

Grace Nohner

CENTRAL REGION - MINNESOTA

Grace Nohner is Student Council Advisor and Student Life Coordinator at Orono High School in Orono, MN. She has been an educator for 20 years, all of them being involved with Student Activities. Locally, Grace has been an integral part of her school and district community, coordinating student mentorships throughout her district in addition to a number of activities and programs in her own school. At the state level, Grace has been a featured presenter at New Advisor Workshops and Summer Leadership Retreats. A four-time division Advisor of the Year, Grace was selected as a State Advisor for the Minnesota Association of Student Leaders (MASL) in 2024. After attending her first NCSA in 2023, she brought back the idea for establishing a Student Life Coordinator position and worked together with her Principal and district administration to make that position a reality at Orono High School. This is the first time that Grace has been recognized as a Regional Earl Reum Award recipient.

Henry Foust

SOUTHERN REGION - NORTH CAROLINA

Henry Foust is Director of Outreach and Partnership for the North Carolina Association of Student Councils (NCASC). Henry has been an educator for 40 years, 39 of them being involved with Student Activities. Now retired, he still volunteers with the Northwood High School Student Council in Pittsboro, NC. A contributor and leader at both the state and national level for decades, Henry has served in various roles, including Curriculum Coordinator, for the NCASC Summer Leadership Workshops at Mars Hill University and NASC/NASSP National Leadership Camps in both New York and South Dakota. Henry was the NCASC State Advisor of the Year in 1991 and became the Region 3 Warren E. Shull Award recipient in 2015. Henry attended his first NAWD conference in 1994 and has been an active participant in 12 NAWD/NCSA conferences since. He was appointed to represent the Southern Region on the NA4SA Board of Directors in 2023. This is the second time that Henry has been recognized as a Regional Earl Reum Award recipient, the first being in 2015.

Sandra Kurland

WESTERN REGION - CALIFORNIA

Sandra Kurland is Executive Director of the California Association of Student Leaders (CASL) and serves as Leadership Development Coordinator for the California Association of Directors of Activities (CADA). She has been an educator for 32 years in both Missouri and California, all of them being involved with Student Activities. Over her career, Sandra has been an advisor, presenter, speaker, facilitator, trainer, and conference host for both student leaders and adult Student Activity Professionals at the state, regional, and national level. Sandra was named the Missouri Teacher of the Year in 1993 and recognized with the California School Boards Association Leadership Award in 2018. Sandra has been an active participant at ten NAWD/NCSA conferences dating back to 2008 in San Diego and she served as conference host for NCSA 2023 in Burlingame, CA. In 2023, Sandra became President of the National Association of State Student Council Executive Directors (NASSCED). This is the second time that Sandra has been recognized as a Regional Earl Reum Award recipient, the first being in 2019.

2025 National Earl Reum Award

Each of the above regional nominees is truly "an excellent teacher of teachers", embodying the spirit and ideals set forth by Dr. Earl Reum while serving as true inspiration to student leaders as well as their fellow advisors and activity directors. After the Regional Earl Reum Awards were presented, only one of these outstanding individuals could be selected to become the 2025 National Earl Reum Award recipient...

This year’s National Earl Reum Award recipient has selflessly exemplified four of the most important criteria for the Earl Reum Award – to encourage and inspire others in the field of student leadership, enthusiastically share experience and expertise through presentation to adults, to promote, facilitate, and create opportunities for adults to receive information to share with their students, and to promote student leadership and activities at the state and national level.

In nominating this year’s National Earl Reum Award recipient, the following words were used: “She embodies the very essence of leadership - transforming lives, inspiring others, and leaving a profound and lasting legacy on student leaders, advisors, and educational organizations across the nation. Her unmatched work ethic, visionary approach, selflessness, and passion for fostering leadership development make her uniquely deserving of this recognition”.

Over more than three decades, this “essence of leadership” has been shared at all levels – as an active Student Council Advisor and respected Instructional Leader within her school community in TWO different states, as a guide and mentor to student leaders and their advisors through active participation and outstanding leadership at the state level, and transcending state lines as a valuable resource for student leaders and their advisors at their state conferences, the NASC National Conference, VISION Conference, and – of course – our NA4SA National Conference on Student Activities.

Her “essence of leadership” was in full display when SHE served as host for the 2023 National Conference on Student Activities in Burlingame, California and it continues today with her selfless service as President of the National Association of State Student Council Executive Directors. In Missouri, then California, and eventually across the nation, HER passion and impact has truly left a “profound and lasting legacy”.

Congratulations to Sandra Kurland, the 2025 National Dr. Earl Reum Award recipient!