Student Chapter Awards

Student chapter awards recognize those that go above and beyond to fulfill SPE’s mission by serving local members. The awards honor exemplary efforts in the categories of technical dissemination and professional development, community involvement, and member recognition and appreciation.

Student Chapters excelling within their super region receive the Regional Outstanding Student Chapter award. These top student chapters advance to the Presidential round for consideration for the Presidential Award for Outstanding Student Chapter. The Presidential Award for Outstanding Student Chapter recognizes up-to-the top 10 percent of applications received, per award category, per size range. The Presidential Awards are presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition.

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Application Process

Award applications are separate from the annual report. They launch in February with a deadline of 1 April. Applications cover activities from 1 April of the prior year through 31 March of the application year. Student chapters may only apply for one of the categories below.

Categories:

  • Technical Dissemination and Professional Development
  • Community Involvement
  • Member Recognition and Appreciation

The categories allow student chapters a better chance to be recognized as they may be excelling in one area but not able to compete with others that excel in other or all areas. The awards are for the student chapter - not an individual officer or member.

Only one (1) application form is permitted per student chapter. The chapter should submit the application for the category of their choice - including a member testimonial from a current (paid) student member of the chapter. The member testimonial is requested when the officer submits the application. Once completed, it will attach to the application. Both the application and completed testimonial must be completed by 1 April.

In the first stage, chapters will compete against like sized chapters in their super region. Chapters excelling within their super region receive the Regional Outstanding Student Chapter honor. These top chapters advance to the Presidential round. 

Presidential Awards are given up to the top 10% of the applications received, per award category, in the size ranges below. The ranges are set and do not change each year. Because of this, size groups are not equally divided. Hint: look at the Membership Statistics report in Membership Builder to see your potential competition.

Size Categories

  • Small: <100 members as of prior year-end
  • Medium: 101-200 members as of prior year-end
  • Large: 201+ members as of prior year-end
     

Eligibility and Judging

Those not meeting maintenance criteria as of 1 April, or on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), are not eligible for awards.

  • The requirements are:
    • Compliant from the prior year
    • Minimum of 25 paid student members
    • Minimum of 3 core officers on file (President, Vice President, Membership Chair, Secretary, Treasurer)
    • Faculty Advisor on file
  • Member testimonial must be from a paid student member of the chapter; cannot be an officer. 

Round 1: Regional

Student chapters compete against other chapters in their super region. Judges are sourced from the League of Volunteers. Chapters excelling within their super region receive the Regional Outstanding Student Chapter Award. These top chapters advance to the Presidential round.

Round 2: Presidential

Chapters compete against all other chapters within their size group and application category. It is not region-based. Judges are sourced from the League of Volunteers. The top-ranking chapters advance to the final Presidential round.

Round 3: Final Presidential

The final round of judging is completed by volunteers from SPE standing committees. Winners are recognized by category with the Presidential Award for Outstanding Student Chapter. Awards are given up to the top 10% of the applications received, per award category, in the size ranges. 
After the results are announced, chapters wanting to improve their application for the future will be provided with access to the winning applications and may request their chapter’s score ranges from the judges. Judges will not be able to provide comparative feedback. 
 

Scoring Criteria

  • Quantity of the programs (5%)
  • Impact on the members (70%)
  • Innovation (10%)
  • Strength of member testimonial (15%)