Awards and Recognition

2024 Award Information

The WAE4-HYDP Awards and Recognition Committee members WANT to support you in applying. 

  • Communicator Awards
    • Amy Mitchell – Chair
    • Melinda Pollen
    • Rachel Hart-Brinson
    • John de Montmollin
  • Specialty Awards
    • Andrea Rippley-Schlais – Chair
    • Tracy Keifenheim
    • Carlea Liermann
    • Annie Lisowski
    • Lindsay Spindler
  • Service Awards & WI ONLY
    • Neil Klemme – Chair
    • Debbie Harris
    • Carlea Liermann
    • Sky Holt

Dear WAE4-HYDP Members,

YOUR work deserves to be recognized and celebrated.  Please consider reviewing all of the wonderful award and recognition opportunities our association offers. Whether this is your first time applying or you are a more tenured educator, there are recognition opportunities available for everyone.

This webpage contains all the information, including links, needed to apply for recognition. It also outlines how to nominate one of our colleagues for a Colleague of the Year Award and a community partner, supporter, or collaborator for the Friend of 4-H Award.  As the Chair of the WAE4-HYDP Awards & Recognition Committee, I would encourage you to take time to read through ALL of the award options and then decide where your work best fits!!

Award applications must be submitted via Google Form by February 10, 2024.  Due to the NAE4-HYDP Awards Deadline, NO late entries can be accepted.

***If you are selected as a state award winner for a national eligible award, you will be notified around February 20th. You must be prepared to submit your materials on the NAE4-HYDP Website by March 1.  This cannot be done until Wisconsin has selected their 2024 Winners, but must be done with a rapid turn around time.***  If you are planning on being away from your computer, consider making alternative arrangements to ensure your entry is uploaded on time.

WAE4-HYDP Awards Committee Office Hours will be held on the following dates/times. Pre-registration is required at the link for each one. Office hours are an opportunity to talk with committee members about an application you have started, discuss which category you might apply in, brainstorm, and get specific questions answered.

Monday, January 22, 2024 from 11:00 – 12 noon. Register in advance for this meeting:
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwoc-msqDgrHtF7NxVbyqq9blwGeGc8GOYz

Thursday, February 1, 2024 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Register in advance for this meeting:
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcqf-ugrD8qGNPyG0vpA6pYOc1f7p9tic1D

NEW this year is a WAE4-HYDP Awards Tip Sheet, which includes a lot of great information to help you get started with award applications. It also includes some frequently asked questions.

Eligibility

  • All or part of the project or program must have been conducted by WAE4-HYDP members from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. Team award members must include at least one state and national member. Team entries are limited to 10 people.
  • An entry submitted for previous consideration must have current (2023) information. If the program previously won an award, it should have been expanded or modified to receive further consideration.  If the program was submitted and did not previously win an award, the program can be resubmitted with major emphasis on what happened during 2023.  Programs may be submitted for more than one award category; however, award applications must reflect varying criteria for each category.  Note: The same application cannot be copied and submitted in more than one award category.

State & National Awards

  • Communicator Awards: These awards annually include about 15 categories that focus on communicating information about 4-H to our clientele, the general public, and stakeholders through different methods.  Read each category to know where you can submit as an individual or team entries.  One award is selected on the state level in each category.  Selection is based on entries that meet qualifications.  The state award winners are then forwarded to the regional level.  National Award winners cannot submit in the same category the following year. https://www.nae4hydp.org/page/Awards
  • Specialty Awards: These awards annually include 15+ categories that focus on program excellence in specific topics as well as opportunities for grants and/or new emerging program areas. This awards category is evolving based on current trends.  Please review categories yearly to find out what is new and what is continuing.  https://www.nae4hydp.org/page/Awards2023 Read each category to know where you can submit as an individual or team entries.  One award is selected on the state level in each category.  Selection is based on entries that meet qualifications.  The state award winners are then forwarded to the regional level.
  • Service Awards: These awards recognize 4-H youth development professionals for their contributions to the profession. Awards cover professionals who have worked in the field for 3+ years of service.  These awards include ASA, DSA, Meritorious Service, and 25-year awards.  https://www.nae4hydp.org/page/Awards
  • Professional Development Awards: These awards focus on professional development for continued formal and non-formal education.

State Only Awards

  • Friend of 4-H: This award recognizes a non-association member, business, or organization who has contributed to the 4-H Youth Development Profession.
  • Tennie Award: This is a service award for retiring 4-H Youth Development professionals.
  • Colleague of the Year Awards: These awards are the perfect opportunity to recognize a colleague that has gone above and beyond in our profession.  It is a simple application process and a special way to encourage our colleagues for their valuable contributions to our profession.  NEW in 2022 – Colleague of the Year Awards Non-Member.
  • WI Only – Specialty Awards

Application Process – all applications must be submitted using the google form links below (highlighted at the beginning of each award category) for Wisconsin consideration prior to the Regional or National Award level.

National Level: go to https://www.nae4hydp.org/page/Awards to review national criteria, please DO NOT apply in the national portal. The national portal will be used after Wisconsin winners are selected.

  • Each award may require an abstract or additional support material depending on the award category. You will need to review each category to determine what you need to submit.

State Level:

  • Each award may require an abstract or additional support material depending on the award category. You will need to review each category within the Google Form to determine submission requirements.

Banquet recognition includes an award for each individual member:  plaques for WAE4-HYDP members; certificates for non-WAE4-HYDP team members.  Team members may choose to purchase plaques for other team members.  If you are a team award recipient; contact the Awards Committee Chair to order additional plaques.  Banquet meal cost is the responsibility of each attendee.   Award notification and press release information will only be sent to the award applicant. The applicant is responsible to notify team members.

If you have any questions, please contact any of the Awards & Recognition Committee members; we will do our best to help!

Penny Tank,

WAE4-HYDP Awards & Recognition Committee Chair

COMMUNICATOR AWARDS 

Don’t miss the chance to be recognized for your significant contributions in presenting 4-H Youth Development to the general public, civic groups, 4-H groups, and/individuals through public information by applying for a Communicator Award in one of the following categories:

  1. Educational Package (Individual or Team) An Educational Package should educate through accurate, concise information on one subject.  Entry must consist of two or more components of the Communicator Awards.  All components must be packaged together in one unit.  Electronic media may be included (i.e. web page, PowerPoint, audio, overheads, etc.).
  2. Educational Piece (Individual or Team): An Educational Piece should educate through accurate, concise information (research based as applies) on one subject.   Not a promotional piece!  Multi-media may be included (i.e. web page, PowerPoint, audio, overheads.)
  3. Exhibit: An Exhibit should provide educational and/or promotional material that is accurate, concise, and makes the audience respond in a positive way.  Entry must have at least one picture of the exhibit along with a description of where and how it was used (Photo must clearly show the units of the exhibit.)
  4. Feature Story: A Feature Story should capture the mood of an event or person(s) and create reader interest.  Not a news story!  Associated photos appearing with the story may be included.  Articles must be original work of the applicant(s).
  5. Media Presentation: A Media Presentation provides educational/promotional information that is accurate, concise, and holds the audience’s attention.  Individual/team must produce the program using PowerPoint, Corel Presentations, or similar presentation software package.
  6. News Story: A News Story presents factual information or results in a manner clear and understandable for the reader.  No copies, rewritten, adapted, or submitted word-for-word published material accepted.  Article must be original work of the applicant(s).
  7. Periodical Publication (Individual or Team): A Periodical Publication is an information piece designed to inform, update, and make the reader respond in a positive way.  Examples may include newsletters, State Association publications, magazines, tabloids, etc.  Must submit two different issues (not necessarily consecutive), but both must be from the same series (i.e. two newsletters or two State Association publications).  The entry may be in printed or in electronic format.  Electronically produced publications must include the web address.
  8. Personal Column: A Personal Column should develop a personal style of writing for publication in any type of print media.   Must submit three original copies and published copies as printed in different issues.  The different published copies should be mounted neatly on cardstock.
  9. Promotional Package (Individual or Team): A Promotional Package should attract an audience’s attention and make them respond in a positive way.  Entry must consist of two or more pieces such as video and brochure, podcast, poster, bookmark, tabloid, electronic media such as web page, PowerPoint, or any other combination of promotional pieces.  All components must be packaged together as a unit.
  10. Promotional Piece (Individual or Team): A Promotional Piece should attract the reader’s attention and make readers respond in a positive way.  Examples include poster, podcast, website, brochure, flyer, tabloid, newspaper insert, video, t-shirt, etc., but not a press release.  Maximum size is 22″ x 28″.
  11. Published Photo: The purpose of a Published Photo is to tell a story through a photo.  Photo should be high quality and follow photographic principles of composition.  May be black and white or color and published or printed.  Submit original photo and published copy.  Include text that appeared with the photo.  Photos must be no larger than 8″ x 10″.  Mount neatly on cardstock.  Photo must be the original work of the applicant.
  12. Radio/Audio Program: A Radio/Audio Program should provide educational information that is accurate, concise, and makes listeners respond in a positive manner or to attract listener’s attention, hold attention and make listener respond in a positive way.
  13. Social Media Package/Campaign (Individual or Team):  A Social Media Package should attract audience member’s attention and make them respond in a positive way.  The entry can be promotional or educational and must consist of two or more social media items such as video, posts, photos, graphics, etc.  All components of the social media package/campaign must be a part of the same program/event.
  14. Social Media Piece (Individual or Team):  A Social Media Piece should attract audience member’s attention and make them respond in a positive way.  The entry can be promotional or educational and can include a video, text post, photo, graphic, etc.  Entry is one item.
  15. Video Program: A Video Program should provide educational information that is accurate, concise, and makes viewers respond in a positive manner or to attract viewer’s attention, hold attention and make viewers respond in a positive way.

SPECIALTY PROGRAM AWARDS  

To provide an opportunity for WAE4-HYDP members to be recognized and to share with colleagues evidence of successful professional programming efforts. Recognition of specialty programs will be given in each category to an individual and/or to a team if warranted.  Each Extension or key contributing member of the team will receive an award.  At least one member of the team must be a current member of WAE4-HYDP.

SPECIALTY PROGRAM AWARDS CLASSES – NAE4-HA  and WAE4-HYDP AWARDS

All the score sheets can be accessed on the national awards page at https://www.nae4hydp.org/page/Awards. The score sheets should also be listed as a part of the Google Form registration for each individual award link below.

  1. 4-H Military Partnership Award: recognizes the individual or team who has created a positive Extension image through their leadership, partnership, and citizenship as it relates to the development of military families and children.
  2. Beyond Youth Leadership: The intended program should involve youth in significant decision making roles that impact their club, community, country, or world. Programs initiated by youth or youth/adult partnerships should be exemplified in the proposal.
  3. Citizenship in 4-H Youth Development Award: individual or team that has developed or conducted a program that empowers young people to be well-informed citizens who are actively engaged in their communities and the world
  4. Denise Miller National 4-H Innovator: awarded to one national recipient (individual or team) who exemplifies innovation, accomplishment, and commitment in the design and delivery of a unique 4‑H program.
  5. Diversity and Inclusion: recognizes outstanding effort and accomplishments in achieving and sustaining diversity in the WAE4-HYDP (NAE4-HA) organization, programs, and/or audiences.
  6. Educational Technology: recognizes use of technology (such as computers, video, satellite, web pages, etc.) in delivering or managing educational programs, expanding use of technology education in 4-H, or promoting logical problem-solving techniques using educational technologies.
  7. Excellence in 4-H Club Support: recognizes efforts of Extension professionals who support and strengthen their 4-H club program.  A club is “an organized unit providing a long-term experience for youth and adults.”
  8. Excellence in 4-H Volunteerism: encourage and recognize the efforts of Extension professionals who do excellent work managing a 4-H volunteer program and/or enhancing 4-H volunteer development.  A volunteer program can be within a local unit, district, statewide, or national effort.   Efforts recognized can be in the area of volunteer development or volunteer program management.
  9. Excellence in After School Programming: recognize exceptional work in 4-H afterschool programming over a period of time
  10. Excellence in Ag Literacy Programming: recognize outstanding 4-H programming efforts in the area of agricultural literacy whether in a rural, suburban or urban setting.
  11. Excellence in Animal Science Programming: recognizes outstanding effort by NAE4-HA members in youth development through Animal Science programming, evaluation, or research projects.
  12. Excellence in Camping: recognizes outstanding effort by members in youth development through 4-H camping, practice, evaluation, or research.
  13. Excellence in Communication and Expressive Arts: recognize outstanding efforts in communication and express arts education.
  14. Excellence in Geospatial Programs: promote 4-H geospatial programs and to encourage and recognize exemplary efforts of 4-H staff who work in this area.
  15. Excellence in Global Citizenship Programming: programs and projects developed and/or conducted that provide opportunities for youth to develop a “world view” including a global perspective and the skills for living in a global society.
  16. Excellence in Healthy Living Programming: recognize outstanding efforts in healthy living programming, evaluation, or research projects.
  17. Excellence in Natural Resources/Environmental Education: recognizes outstanding effort in natural resources/environmental education.
  18. Excellence in Peer Professional Development: to recognize NAE4-HYDP members for significant accomplishments in peer to peer teaching in 4-H, youth development, or other professional development topics related to the youth development professional. Delivery of professional development must be by other Extension professionals to their peers
  19. Jim Kahler Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Award: recognize outstanding effort by NAE4-HYDP members in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programming, curriculum, project, or event.
  20. Excellence in Shooting Sports Programming Award: to recognize outstanding effort by members in youth development through Shooting Sports programming, evaluation, or research.
  21. Excellence in Teamwork: recognizes programs conducted by a team that demonstrate effective performance and significant impact at community, state, or multi-state levels.  The program must involve two or more different program areas.
  22. Excellence in Urban Programming: recognizes outstanding efforts by NAE4-HA members in the area of urban programming.  To strengthen the commitment to urban programming curriculum.
  23. Excellence in Workforce Development Programming: recognize innovative and successful efforts providing workforce development and career exploration programming and curriculum.
  24. Greg Yost Memorial Youth in Leadership: recognizes the efforts which engage young people in decisions that affect them and their world.
  25. Life Member Award (State winners advance to National Level) recognize outstanding effort and accomplishments of Life Members in NAE4-HA in serving the association during their career up to and including their involvement, dedication, and exceptional service to their community during their retirement.
  26. Search for Excellence in Teen Programming: programs conducted for and with teen audiences.
  27. Susan Barkman Award for Research and Evaluation: recognize for excellence in research and evaluation of Extension programs. (State winners advance to National Level).

SPECIALTY AWARD CLASSES – WAE4-HYDP AWARDS (WI ONLY)

Please note that award classes in this category are awards sponsored only by WAE4-HYDP, therefore there is no regional and national level recognition for these classes.

  1. Collaboration/Partnership: Programs involving external agencies with a minimum of one partner being external.
  2. Program Development: includes implementation, evaluation, and results. This may be an individual project or in collaboration.
  3. Research Project: i.e. – on the job research. This may be an individual project or collaboration.
  4. Teaching Series: Series must show progression or succession and have a minimum of three distinct parts. This may be an individual project or in collaboration.
  5. Training Methods: Examples include adult and youth involvement series for new leaders, involvement of key/resource leaders, program for group or individual leader training, and officer training. This may be an individual project or in collaboration.
  6. Excellence in Spark Support: NEW 2024 – The Excellence in Spark Support Award is to encourage and recognize the efforts of Extension professionals who support and strengthen youth sparks and project learning. This may be an individual or team project.

SERVICE AWARDS

Please read the guidelines for the ASA, DSA, and MSA awards carefully.

COLLEAGUE OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Purpose

Colleague of the Year Awards were created to recognize and honor outstanding achievements and contributions by WAE4-HYDP members. One of the major purposes of the award is for peers to recognize outstanding colleagues for teamwork, work efforts, and programming success.

Eligibility

The nomination of candidates for this award may be made by any WAE4-HYDP member. One award in each group of years of service will be awarded for each award category (up to nine awards total) may be awarded annually. Years of service are determined by the number of years of paid membership to NAE4-HA and/or WAE4-HYDP in any state.

Years of Service Groups:

  • Achieving Colleague – 1 to 7 years
  • Distinguished Colleague – 7 years or more
  • Meritorious Colleague – 15 years or more

COLLEAGUE OF THE YEAR AWARDS CLASSES

Distinguished Efforts in Colleague Development – actions that help provide employees with opportunities to learn and to be rewarded such as:

  • exhibiting qualities of an excellent stakeholder, collaborator and partner.
  • making special efforts to recognize excellence in others.
  • creating extra opportunities for colleagues to improve skills and abilities.
  • contributing to an exceptionally supportive, team-oriented environment.

Outstanding Achievement in the Profession – actions that constitute performance beyond expected standards such as:

  • going above and beyond in work and partnerships.
  • exhibiting strong work ethics.
  • valuing outstanding achievement in self and others.
  • producing high quality of work over an extended period of time.
  • producing a high quantity of work over an extended period of time.
  • giving extra effort to complete a job or handle a heavier workload.
  • volunteering for and working on special projects.
  • working as part of team efforts.

Exceptional Contributions towards Programmatic Effectiveness – actions that contribute to the maximum success in programming such as:

  • developing and/or conducting innovative youth development programs.
  • developing and/or conducting effective youth development programs.
  • outstanding efforts in outreach methods.
  • employing a creative approach to work.
  • providing guidance and/or leadership to colleagues in a program area of expertise.

Colleague of the Year Non- Member – recognize and honor outstanding achievements and contributions by colleagues who are NOT WAE4-HYDP members. This may be for teamwork, efforts that strengthen 4-H program, exceptional support, and more.

WAE4-HYDP AWARDS APPLICATION VIDEO – https://youtu.be/i7iCWXEmLtA 

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