Youth professionals are encouraged to apply for awards which recognize their outstanding work and demonstrate scholarship and professionalism.
Awards Questions? Contact Andrea Farrier
Communicator Awards
Recognize marketing and communication pieces, including news articles, presentations, news releases, blog posts, video promotions, and more!
These are submitted ONLINE via the OpenWaters awards system.
State, Regional & National Communication Awards
- Educational Package (Individual and Team)
- Educational Piece (Individual and Team)
- Exhibit
- Feature Story
- Media Presentation
- News Story
- Periodical Publication (Individual and Team)
- Personal Column
- Promotional Package (Individual and Team)
- Promotional Piece (Individual and Team)
- Published Photo
- Radio Program
- Video Program
Specialty Awards
Recognize successful programming, innovative teaching methods, or new partnerships or audience reach in a variety of topic areas, including After-School Programming, Camping, Healthy Living, Urban Programming STEM, and many more! These are submitted ONLINE via the OpenWaters awards system. Some specialty awards involve a monetary prize as well (see full list for specific details.)
National Speciality Awards
- NAE4-HA Air Force Recruiting Salute Award
- NAE4-HA 4-H/Army Youth Development Project Salute Award
- NAE4-HA 4-H/Air Force Aim High Award
- NAE4-HA 4-H/Navy "Pledge" Award
- NAE4-HA Beyond Youth Leadership Award
- NAE4-HA Diversity Award
- NAE4-HA Educational Technology Award (Individual and Team)NAE4-HA Excellence in 4-H Club Support Award (Individual and Team)
- NAE4-HA Excellence in Teamwork Award
- NAE4-HA Excellence in Camping Award (Individual and Team)
- NAE4-HA Excellence in Natural Resources/Environmental Education Award (Individual and Team)
- NAE4-HA Power of Youth Award
- NAE4-HA World Citizenship in 4-H Youth Development Award
- NAE4-HA Search For Excellence in Teen Programming Award (Individual and Team)
- NAE4-HA Interactive 4-H Educational Web Site Award (Team)
- NAE4-HA Dr. Jim Duncan Program of Distinction Award
- NAE4-HA Denise Miller National 4-H Innovator Award
- NAE4-HA Excellence in Urban 4-H Programming Award
- NAE4-HA Excellence in Animal Science Programming Award
- NAE4-HA Excellence in Global Citizenship Programming
- NAE4-HA Excellence in 4-H Volunteerism
- NAE4-HA Excellence in Geospatial Programs
Service Awards
Recognize association members who have achieved specific service/employment time for their professional achievements and program accomplishments!
Applications Available Online (ASA, DSA, MSA)
- Achievement in Service Award application for staff with 3 to 7 years experience.
- Distinguished Service Award application for staff with 7 or more years experience.
- Meritorious Service Award application for staff with 15 or more years experience.
- 25 Years of Service - Application available online.
State & National Service Awards include:
- Achievement in Service Award
- Distinguished Service Award
- Early Career Award
- Meritorious Service Award
- Outstanding Program Award
View Past Service Award Winners
First Timer Scholarship
Assists first-time attendees in attending the national conference by helping to cover the cost of early bird registration. Apply online via the specialty award application.
IEPYE Professional Development Scholarship
The Illinois Extension Professionals for Youth Education Professional Development Scholarship Fund is designed to provide financial assistance and enhance the professional development of IEPYE members. The scholarship program will be:
- An incentive program to encourage members to attend NAE4-HYDP national meetings and participate fully in the conference (attend workshops, seminars, committee meetings, etc.).
- The IEPYE Professional Development Scholarship is now live! IEPYE offers a professional development scholarship each year (up to $500) to help a member or members (splitting the funds) pay to attend NAE4-HYDP conference.
Application due May 1, 2023