2018 Recipient – Dr. Jay Smink
The National Dropout Prevention Center recognizes the far-reaching impact of Dr. Jay Smink’s work through the establishment of the Dr. Jay Smink Lifetime Achievement Award, naming Dr. Smink as its inaugural recipient.
Dr. Jay Smink served as executive director of the National Dropout Prevention Center for 24 years and was awarded professor emeritus in Clemson University’s College of Health, Education, and Human Development. His work in dropout prevention led to the identication of 15 Eective Strategies for Dropout Prevention that can and do have a positive eect on the challenge of dropouts. The importance of these strategies is recognized nationwide as guidelines for school improve-ment and at-risk student intervention. They continue to be the founda-tion on which the NDPC operates, resulting in his lasting legacy to education and, more important, to helping at-risk youth graduate. His national leadership and authority on truancy and dropout prevention, mentoring, alternative schools, after-school programs, learning styles, service-learning, school-to-work, vocational educa-tion research, safe school environments, project evaluation and accountability, education marketing and dissemination, and program management secured his professional status as a well-respected leader in dropout prevention.
Dr. Smink’s career has also included classroom teaching in public schools, leadership positions in state agencies, and research and administrative positions in the national Career and Technical Education Center at The Ohio State University.
After retiring as executive director of the National Dropout Prevention Center in 2011, he continues to impact dropout prevention efforts in countless schools nationwide. Dr. Smink served on numerous national and state boards, including the American Bar Association Advisory Commission on Youth Alcohol and Other Drug Problems, National Association for Industry-Education Cooperative, the National Mentoring Partnership, the Center for Career and Technical Education at The Ohio State University, and the South Carolina Commission on National and Community Service. In 2013, Dr. Smink was awarded the Governor and Mrs. Richard W. Riley Award for significant contributions to the advancement of dropout prevention initiatives in the state of South Carolina. In 2006, Dr. Smink was presented the National Dropout Prevention Center’s Crystal Star Award of Excellence Distinguished Leadership and Service award.
The Dr. Jay Smink Lifetime Achievement Award will be given annually to individuals who have made a signicant impact in dropout prevention as a longtime partner of the National Dropout Prevention Center.