2023 APWA Awards Program
Download: 2023 Awards Program Packet
APWA AWARDS RECOGNIZING MEMBERS
Asset Management Award
To recognize a team or organization for advancements made in their Asset Management (AM) System. The AM System refers
to the global activities of the organization geared toward maximizing the value the community receives from infrastructure
assets.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Award of Merit
This award is given to an individual at the operational level (first line supervisor or below) who performs his/her responsibilities in an exceptionally efficient and courteous manner. Nominees need not be a member of the APWA, but must have been employed by a Public Works related agency for a period of not less than five years.
Download: Chapter Nomination Form
Community Involvement Award
To recognize public works leaders who are also leaders in their community. To encourage public works professionals to become active leaders in their community. To ensure public trust in public works professionals through recognition of outstanding community leadership.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Contractor of the Year Award
These awards will be presented by the individual branches of the Chapter to deserving contractors. Each contractor nominated for this award will receive a letter from the Chapter acknowledging that they have been nominated. These awards give recognition to contractors who have provided exceptional and continued service to Public Works. It is recognition for those contractors, large or small, who are always available to provide help and assistance in both scheduled activities and emergency situations. A nomination for this award says, “Thanks for all the help.”
Download: Chapter Nomination Form
Distinguished Service to Public Works Award
To promote and enhance the purposes of APWA. This award is regarded as the highest honor that APWA can bestow. Established in 1935 as the Honorary Membership Award, this honor is intended to indicate to the greatest possible extent APWA’s esteem, respect and regard.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Donald C. Stone Award for Excellence in Education
Established in honor of Donald C. Stone, founder of APWA, to recognize outstanding and meritorious achievement of individuals assisting in the areas of continuing and graduate professional education for public works professionals.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Harry S. Swearingen Award for Outstanding Chapter Achievement and Excellence in Chapter Service
Established in 1958 to perpetuate the memory of Harry Seller Swearingen (1900–1957), who worked untiringly on behalf of APWA and its purposes. A career employee of the City of Los Angeles, Swearingen was an active member of the Southern California Chapter. This award recognizes outstanding individual achievement through chapter activity and achievement in support of APWA’s strategic plan, goals and objectives, as well as outstanding service to APWA as a public or private sector member at the chapter level.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
International Service Award
Established by the APWA International Affairs Committee, the APWA International Service Award recognizes an APWA member who has furthered the cause of international understanding and cooperation by becoming actively involved in exchanges, establishing a relationship with a public works entity from another country, or providing outstanding public works service on an international basis.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Professional Manager of the Year Award - Administrative Management
The Professional Manager of the Year Award in Administrative Management seeks to recognize outstanding achievement in the area of administration within public works department and to inspire excellence and dedication in the public sector by recognizing the outstanding career service achievements of administrative professionals.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Professional Manager of the Year Award - Engineering and Technology
The Professional Manager of the Year Award in the Engineering and Technology category seeks to inspire excellence and dedication by recognizing the outstanding career service achievements of engineering and technology professionals. The primary focus of this award is the recognition of exceptional leadership and management in the area of engineering and technology.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Professional Manager of the Year Award - Facilities and Grounds
The Facilities and Grounds Professional Manager of the Year Award seeks to inspire excellence and dedication in the public sector by recognizing the outstanding career service achievements of facilities and/or grounds management professionals. The primary focus of this award is the recognition of exceptional leadership and management in the field of facilities and/or grounds.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Professional Manager of the Year Award - Public Fleet
The Professional Manager of the Year Award in Public Fleet category seeks to inspire excellence and dedication in the public sector by recognizing the outstanding career service achievements of public fleet management professionals. The primary focus of this award is recognition of exceptional leadership and management of public sector fleets.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Professional Manager of the Year Award - Public Rights-of-Way
The Professional Manager of the Year Award in the Public Right-of-Way category seeks to inspire excellence and dedication by recognizing the outstanding career service achievements of public right-of-way management professionals. The primary focus of this award is the recognition of management demonstrating that all stakeholders share the public right-of-way in harmony and preserve it in the best interest and benefit of the public.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Professional Manager of the Year Award - Public Works Emergency Management
The Professional Manager of the Year Award in Public Works Emergency Management seeks to inspire excellence and dedication by recognizing the outstanding career service achievements of public works emergency management professionals. The primary focus of this award is the recognition of exceptional leadership in the field of public works emergency management.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Professional Manager of the Year Award - Solid Waste
The Professional Manager of the Year Award in the Solid Waste category seeks to inspire excellence and dedication by recognizing the outstanding career service achievements of solid waste management professionals. The primary focus of this award is recognition of exceptional management, operation, and maintenance of public sector solid waste operations.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Professional Manager of the Year Award - Transportation
The Professional Manager of the Year Award in the Transportation category seeks to inspire excellence and dedication by recognizing the outstanding career service achievements of public transportation professionals. The primary focus of this award is recognition of exceptional leadership and management by an individual through a significant transportation related project or program.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Professional Manager of the Year Award - Water Resources
The Professional Manager of the Year Award in the Water Resources category seeks to inspire excellence and dedication by recognizing the outstanding career service achievements of water resources professionals.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Samuel A. Greeley Award
This award recognizes dedicated and continued service to a local public agency excluding State or Federal agencies. The nominee must have been employed for thirty or more years by the local agency, and must have been a member of APWA for fifteen or more years.
Download: Chapter Nomination Form
Service Improvement Award
This award is given to a community/department that has initiated a new community service or improved on an existing one. Emphasis will be placed on level of service performed, cost savings, and integration with other service/facilities. The purpose of this award is to promote and enhance the operations/maintenance function of Public Works.
Download: Chapter Nomination Form
Myron Calkins Young Leader of the Year Award
To recognize and encourage young APWA members who have demonstrated an initial commitment to the profession and the association and show potential for future growth within the association. The award promotes the concept that length of career does not necessarily indicate leadership abilities or potential for service.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Hall Of Fame
The Chicago Metro Chapter has established a number of awards and events in which individuals, agencies and private sector firms are recognized for their efforts and accomplishments. The purpose of this award is to establish criteria for the nomination, selection and induction of an individual into the Chapter “Hall of Fame.”
Download: Chapter Nomination Form
APWA AWARDS RECOGNIZING THE PROFESSION
Commendation for Exemplary Service to Public Works
To recognize an eminent government or other public service leader for far-reaching positive impact on local, state or national public works programs, services, or policies through distinguished public service and commitment. Established in 1972 and previously known as the Distinguished Service Award, this award particularly recognizes leadership in furthering the mission and goals of APWA.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Excellence in Snow and Ice Control Award
Applications must be sent directly to APWA National.
For more details, visit the Snow and Ice Control Award webpage.
Exceptional Performance Award
Established in 1996, this award recognizes individuals, teams, or organizations in the areas of adversity, journalism, and safety whose outstanding contributions in the course of performance raises the level of public awareness of the profession.
In 2010, a Chapter Journalism award was established to recognize chapters for their excellence in communication through magazines, newsletters and other publications.
- Adversity Recognizes exceptional performance in the face of adversity in service to the public.
- Diversity Recognizes individuals or agencies for exceptional performance and contributions to promote diversity practices.
- Journalism (non-chapter) Recognizes exceptional performance in presenting the story of a public works issue or event that projects a positive image of individuals or agencies in the course of their performance in both broadcast and print mediums.
- Journalism (chapter) Recognizes exceptional performance at the chapter level for their newsletters, magazines and/or other publications and broadcast mediums.
- Safety Recognizes exceptional performance in the area of safety.
- Sustainability Recognizes exceptional performance in the area of sustainability.
Download: Criteria Nomination Form
Management Innovation Award
To recognize an individual, team, or organization for the development, management, and implementation of a creative idea, program, process, or system that enhances the delivery of public works services to the public. A management Innovation is defined as a procedure such as a system, program or process.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Public Works Project of the Year Award
The APWA Public Works Project of the Year Award was established to promote excellence in the management and administration of public works projects by recognizing the alliance between the managing agency, the consultant/architect/ engineer, and the contractor who, working together, complete public works projects.
Awards are given in four divisions:
- Projects less than $5 million
- Projects of $5 million, but less than $25 million
- Projects of $25 million to $75 million
- Projects more than $75 million
and five categories:
- Structures—to include public structure preservation/rehabilitation, municipal buildings, parks, etc.
- Transportation—to include roads, bridges, mass transit, etc.
- Environment—to include treatment and recycling facilities, landfill reclamation projects, sewer projects, etc.
- Historical Restoration/Preservation—to include historical restoration, preservation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings, structures, and facilities, etc.
- Disaster or Emergency Construction/Repair—to include the techniques and timing for safety, community relations, environmental protection, adverse conditions and additional considerations.
Download: Criteria From Project Supporting Form Nomination Form
Technical Innovation Award- To recognize an individual, team, or organization for the development, or implementation of a creative idea, device, process, or system that enhances the delivery of public works services to the public. A technical innovation involves materials, design and equipment such as pinch valves, a carbon fiber reinforced bridge, etc.
Download: Criteria Form Nomination Form
Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year Award
The Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year program seeks to inspire excellence and dedication in public service by recognizing the outstanding career service achievements of individual public works professionals and officials, from both the public and private sectors. The primary focus of the award is on career service to the public works profession rather than on any one single event or project.
Download: Supporting File Nomination Form
