We proudly recognize past, present, and future industry leaders with a variety of awards and scholarships.
Nominations open in the fall.
Ramsden-Sullivan Memorial Award
Past Ramsden-Sullivan Award Winners
This award honors exceptional service or contributions to IIABCal, or the insurance industry as a whole. It’s the Association’s highest recognition and commemorates Perce Ramsden, a founding leader, and Gene Sullivan, the influential Executive Director of the Western Association of Insurance Brokers from 1956 to 1981.
Nominations are made by the Executive Committee, who may seek suggestions from previous Ramsden/Sullivan award recipients. Once a nominee is selected, the President will add up to three Board members to review and discuss the choice. A majority vote will finalize the selection. If no suitable candidate is found in a given year, the award will be withheld to preserve its prestige. Current officers and directors are ineligible until they complete their terms.
Anthony J. DiBuduo Award
Past Anthony J. DiBuduo Award Winners
This award is given in memory of Anthony J. “Cheech” DiBuduo, who, throughout his distinguished career, was a champion and mentor of young agents and brokers and set a standard of unparalleled commitment to the political action programs of both IIABCal and IIABA.
The Anthony J. DiBuduo Award is given to the most outstanding young broker or agent based on their record of exemplary service to community or association and participation in IIABCal or IIABA political action programs, and includes a $2,500 stipend that the deserving recipient may utilize as they see fit to continue the good works acknowledged by the award criteria. The recipient must be a licensed producer in California for two or more years and under forty years of age at the time the award is presented, and must have demonstrated the drive to increase professional expertise.
Blue Ribbon Conference Scholarship
Scholarships are available to IIABCal Agency Members who are first-time attendees of the premier Blue Ribbon Conference. These scholarships are intended to provide tomorrow’s leaders with opportunities to network with peers and senior representatives from carriers and vendors, to gain valuable industry insight from leading minds in the industry, and have a front-row seat to the Blue Ribbon Conference experience so they can leverage their learning and networking when they return home.
The scholarship includes Blue Ribbon Conference registration for agent and guest and five nights at the conference hotel, including all hotel taxes and fees. The scholarship is non-transferable and must be used for the conference year for which it is awarded. If selected for a scholarship, the member must confirm their ability to attend the event within a week of being notified and will be expected to maintain a current IIABCal membership throughout the year that the award is given.
Bobby Acquistapace Memorial Award
Past Bobby Acquistapace Memorial Award Winners
The IIABCal Board of Directors established the Bobby Acquistapace Memorial Award Fund to provide three $1,000 scholarships annually to local association members. The award is named after Central Coast Past President, Robert “Bobby” Acquistapace. Bobby was an integral part of the Central Coast Local Association and was known for his community involvement and service through organizations like the Elks Rodeo Parade, the Rotary Club of Santa Maria, the Santa Maria Valley Economic Development Association, and others.
IIABCal Local Associations are eligible to nominate one local association member annually for consideration. Nomination criteria shall include, but not be limited to, the individual’s Local Association service and desire to further their insurance career. Deserving recipients may utilize the $1,000 scholarship to strengthen their membership engagement with IIABCal, including but not limited to: IIABCal membership dues payment; attend an IIABCal conference or education/training session; sponsor an event or education/training session.
Bushnell Memorial Fund
The Bushnell Memorial Fund was created to honor A.N. Bushnell, Jr., a leader in insurance education and past president of IIABCal and provides up to two $1,000 scholarships annually to college students at any accredited US university who are majoring in insurance. Students must demonstrate their commitment to a career in the field of insurance to be considered for the Scholarship.
Harlan Miller and David “Bud” Wilson Award
Past Harlan Miller and David “Bud” Wilson Award Winners
This award honors and recognizes the outstanding service of Harlan Miller and David “Bud” Wilson, who generously gave their time to benefit the California and national independent insurance agency landscape.
The Harlan Miller and David “Bud” Wilson Award is presented to a member with less than 10 years’ experience who desires to attend the IIABA Legislative Conference. The purpose of this award is to promote activism by increasing California representation at the IIABA Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. and includes a $2500 stipend to be used towards expenses of attending the Conference.