This award is for individuals that are employed in a laboratory facility, have direct responsibility for in-house or field testing of water or wastewater activities, and have not previously won the award.  The VWEA/VAAWWA Laboratory Practices Committee reviews the nominations and submits a ballot on their choice.  The Chair of the committee will notify the award winner and nominator by a congratulatory letter.  The awardee will be honored with a plaque presented at the Joint Annual Meeting (WaterJAM).

 

Eligibility

• MEMBERSHIP – The candidate does not have to be a member of the Water Environment Federation at the time of nomination. The association will award a membership to the winner if the awardee is not a current member.
• EMPLOYMENT – The candidate must be employed at an industrial, commercial, or municipal laboratory facility that conducts water and wastewater analyses.
• RESPONSIBILITIES – The candidate must have direct responsibilities for analytical bench testing and/or field- testing of water or wastewater samples.
• RECOGNITION – Only those who have not been recognized by this award before are eligible.  Non-winning nominees may be nominated again.  One nominee per facility per year.

Criteria

• INITIATIVE – The nominee must have shown initiative in pursuing innovative bench or field technique improvements.
• PERFORMANCE

1. The nominee must have performed duties consistently as outlined by laboratory or field sampling/analytical methods.
2. The nominee’s performance must demonstrate a commitment to high-quality control standards.
3. The nominee must be conscientious about laboratory or field safety requirements.

• ABILITY – The nominee’s abilities must include problem-solving.
• PERSPECTIVE – The nominee’s perspective should be dutiful and conscientious.
• PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT – The nominee’s actions should demonstrate a commitment to professional development; e.g. by maintaining active membership in professional associations and/or through continuing education.