Each year, the ARRL Board of Directors has the opportunity to select recipients for a number of awards in various categories that honor Amateur Radio operators. The nomination period is now open for the ARRL awards that are designed to recognize educational and technological pursuits in Amateur Radio, including an award that honors a young Amateur Radio operator.

Educational Awards

• The Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award will be awarded to an ARRL volunteer Amateur Radio instructor or to an ARRL professional classroom teacher who uses creative instructional approaches and models the highest values of the Amateur Radio community; nominees must be ARRL members. The award has been focused to reflect quality of instruction and commitment to licensing instruction. Nominations must be received by March 15, 2013 to be considered. Click here for an online nomination form.
• The Hiram Percy Maxim Award is for a licensed radio amateur under age 21 whose accomplishments and contributions are of the most exemplary nature within the framework of Amateur Radio activities; nominees must be ARRL members. Nominations for this award need to be made through your Section Manger, who will then forward the nomination to ARRL Headquarters by March 31, 2013. To find your Section Manager, click here or see page 16 of any issue of QST. Click here for an online nomination form.

ARRL Technical Awards

The ARRL Board of Directors has created a program of technical awards that recognize microwave development, technical service and technical innovation. In taking the action, the Board noted that international regulations recognize the “technical investigations” conducted by the Amateur Radio Service. In our own domestic rules, the FCC recognizes the amateur’s “proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art,” the need to promote technical skills, and expand the “existing reservoir...of trained operators, technicians and electronics experts.” The Board also noted that one of the purposes of the League is to promote experimentation and education in the field of electronic communication, research and development, and the dissemination of technical, educational and scientific information.

• The ARRL Microwave Development Award is presented to a licensed radio amateur or to individuals who are licensed radio amateurs who contribute to the development of the Amateur Radio microwave bands. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2013. Click here for an online nomination form.
• The ARRL Technical Service Award recognizes a licensed radio amateur or individuals who are licensed radio amateurs who provide Amateur Radio technical assistance or training to others. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2013. Click here for an online nomination form.
• The ARRL Technical Innovation Award is granted to a licensed radio amateur or to individuals who are licensed radio amateurs who develop and apply new technical ideas or techniques in Amateur Radio. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2013. Click here for an online nomination form.

The Knight Distinguished Service Award

The ARRL Board of Directors established the Knight Distinguished Service Award to recognize a Section Manager who has made notable contributions to the health and vitality of the League. The first such award was presented to Joe T. Knight, W5PDY, for whom the award was named. He was commended for his exemplary service not only as the ARRL Section New Mexico Section Manager for more than a quarter of a century, but also for his willingness, time and time again, to share his knowledge and skills leadership by volunteering to help train and orient newly elected Section Managers from throughout the country.

In recognition of the commitment to the ARRL Field Organization as exemplified by Knight, the Knight Distinguished Service Award may be awarded from time to time to an ARRL Section Manager who has distinguished himself or herself with exceptionably notable contributions over an extended period of time within his or her Section and beyond, whose efforts have contributed to the health and vitality of the ARRL and its Field Organization and whose actions are in the spirit of the unselfish contributions of Joe T. Knight, W5PDY.

The ARRL Board shall publicize the existence of the Knight Distinguished Service Award and the nomination criteria from time to time in QST and on the ARRL website. Nominations may be made by any ARRL member and shall be accompanied by a narrative of the accomplishments of the nominee identifying the long term contributions of the nominee to ARRL and its Field Organization. Those awarded the Knight Distinguished Service Award shall be presented with a suitable plaque commemorating the award. Nominations for this award should come directly to ARRL Field Organization Supervisor Steve Ewald, WV1X, at ARRL Headquarters and must be received by April 15, 2013.

For more information about any or all of these awards, please click here. You may also contact Ewald via e-mail or by phone at 860-594-0265.