The IEEE Chicago Section Awards Committee is seeking nominations for the 2025 Awards. The Annual Awards & Recognition Program honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the IEEE Chicago Section, as well as organizations that have provided sustained support to IEEE Chicago activities.
To be eligible for certain awards, individual nominees must be IEEE Chicago Section (or subsection) members or student members during the award year. Self-nominations are not permitted. Nominations must be submitted using the official Awards Nomination Form.
Nomination Deadline: 15 February 2026, 11:59 PM CST
Award results will be announced by the end of February 2026
The Awards & Felicitation Ceremony will be held in March 2026 during an in-person IEEE Chicago Section ExCom meeting (second Tuesday of the month)
The Awards Committee encourages your participation in nominating deserving candidates for the following awards:
Individual Awards Recognizing Lifetime Service and Outstanding Contributions
Outstanding Section Member Award
The “Outstanding Section Member” award is designed to recognize a member of the Chicago Section who, through their professional and technical abilities, has made outstanding and noteworthy contributions to the Section, their communities, and the engineering profession. The award is not designed to recognize a single achievement, but rather to recognize collective contributions complemented by singular works that exemplify IEEE objectives.
Number of Awards Per Year: Up to one award may be presented annually; the award may be withheld in years when no suitable nominee is identified.
IEEE Membership: Encouraged but not required.
Residency Requirement: The nominee must either reside or be professionally affiliated within the geographic boundaries of the IEEE Chicago Section at the time of nomination.
Lifetime Service Award
The “Lifetime Service” award is designed to recognize a member of the Chicago Section who has demonstrated a rare level of dedication and achievement through their long-time service and noteworthy contributions to the Section, their communities, and the engineering profession.
Number of Awards Per Year: Up to one award may be presented annually; the award may be withheld in years when no suitable nominee is identified.
IEEE Membership: Encouraged but not required.
Residency Requirement: The nominee must either reside or be professionally affiliated within the geographic boundaries of the IEEE Chicago Section at the time of nomination.
Individual Awards Recognizing the Professional Excellence
Distinguished Senior R&D Award
The “Distinguished Senior Research and Development” award is designed to recognize an IEEE Member or Senior Member with more than 10 years of experience who has made significant progress in research and development. The candidate must have published at least one IEEE journal paper and participated in at least one IEEE symposium or conference.
Number of Awards Per Year: Normally, one award is presented annually; in extraordinary circumstances, more than one award may be conferred. The award may be withheld in years when no suitable nominee is identified.
IEEE Membership: Required.
Residency Requirement: The nominee must either reside or be professionally affiliated within the geographic boundaries of the IEEE Chicago Section at the time of nomination.
Distinguished Junior R&D Award
The “Distinguished Junior Research and Development” award is designed to recognize an IEEE Student Member or Member with less than 10 years experience who has made significant progress in research and development. The candidate must have published at least one IEEE journal paper and participated in at least one IEEE symposium or conference.
Number of Awards Per Year: Normally, one award is presented annually; in extraordinary circumstances, more than one award may be conferred. The award may be withheld in years when no suitable nominee is identified.
IEEE Membership: Required.
Residency Requirement: The nominee must either reside or be professionally affiliated within the geographic boundaries of the IEEE Chicago Section at the time of nomination.
Outstanding Young Engineer Award
The “Outstanding Young Engineer” award is designed to recognize a member of the Chicago Section who has made noteworthy contributions to the engineering profession. The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering awarded within the past decade.
Number of Awards Per Year: Normally, one award is presented annually; in extraordinary circumstances, more than one award may be conferred. The award may be withheld in years when no suitable nominee is identified.
IEEE Membership: Required.
Residency Requirement: The nominee must either reside or be professionally affiliated within the geographic boundaries of the IEEE Chicago Section at the time of nomination.
Awards Recognizing IEEE Organizational Units and Partners
Outstanding Chapter Award
The “Outstanding Chapter” award is designed to recognize a Chicago Section Chapter that has most successfully promoted IEEE values in the past year.
Number of Awards Per Year: Normally, one award is presented annually; in extraordinary circumstances, more than one award may be conferred. The award may be withheld in years when no suitable nominee is identified.
Outstanding Student Branch Award
The “Outstanding Student Branch” award is designed to recognize a Chicago Section Student Branch that has most successfully promoted IEEE values in the past year.
Number of Awards Per Year: Normally, one award is presented annually; in extraordinary circumstances, more than one award may be conferred. The award may be withheld in years when no suitable nominee is identified.
Friends of the IEEE Chicago Section Award
The “Friends of the IEEE Chicago Section” award is designed to recognize a business or organization that has provided noteworthy contributions to the Section. The award is not designed to recognize a single act, but rather consistent contributions.
Number of Awards Per Year: At the discretion of the Awards Committee and the Section Chair.
Individual Awards Recognizing the Section Volunteers and Officers
Distinguished Officer Award
The “Distinguished Officer Service” award is designed to recognize an officer (chair, vice chair, treasurer, or secretary) of the Chicago Section (including officers of the Section, society chapters, and affinity groups) who has executed the responsibilities of the position in a manner beyond normal expectations.
Number of Awards Per Year: Normally, one award is presented annually; in extraordinary circumstances, more than one award may be conferred. The award may be withheld in years when no suitable nominee is identified.
IEEE Membership: Required.
Residency Requirement: The nominee must either reside or be professionally affiliated within the geographic boundaries of the IEEE Chicago Section at the time of nomination.
Eligibility:
Distinguished Student Branch/Student Chapter Officer Award
The “Distinguished Student Branch/Student Chapter Officer” award is designed to recognize an officer (chair, vice chair, treasurer, or secretary) of the Chicago Section student branches who has executed the responsibilities of the position in a manner beyond normal expectations.
Number of Awards Per Year: Normally, one award is presented annually; in extraordinary circumstances, more than one award may be conferred. The award may be withheld in years when no suitable nominee is identified.
Distinguished Mentoring Award
The “Distinguished Mentoring” award is designed to recognize a member of the Chicago Section who has provided noteworthy mentoring to an IEEE student branch in the Section.
Number of Awards Per Year: Normally, one award is presented annually; in extraordinary circumstances, more than one award may be conferred. The award may be withheld in years when no suitable nominee is identified.
Outstanding Student Branch Advisor Award
The “Outstanding Student Branch Advisor” award is designed to recognize a student branch advisor for a Chicago Section Student Branch who has executed the responsibilities of the position in a manner beyond normal expectations.
Number of Awards Per Year: Normally, one award is presented annually; in extraordinary circumstances, more than one award may be conferred. The award may be withheld in years when no suitable nominee is identified.
Awards Appreciating Singular Achievement or Contributions
Certificate of Appreciation
The “Certificate of Appreciation” award is designed to recognize members of the Chicago Section who have given their time or provided some noteworthy contributions to the Section. The award is intended to recognize a single achievement/contribution.
Number of Awards Per Year: At the discretion of the Awards Committee and the Section Chair.