Distinguished Service Award

Distinguished Service Award

Service to the Learner Engagement Division

SELF-NOMINATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED.

Purpose

This award recognizes an individual who has made exceptional, sustained contributions to the mission, growth, and impact of the Learning Engagement Division (LED). It honors an LED member whose efforts have significantly advanced the division’s goals and strengthened the LED community. This award is presented biannually to ensure recognition of sustained excellence and impactful contributions over time.

Eligibility

  • The nominee must be an active member of the Learner Engagement Division and of AECT.
  • Nominees must demonstrate significant contributions through activities such as conference proposal reviews, participation in monthly membership meetings, or involvement in LED task forces or committees.
  • Past recipients are ineligible to receive the award again within a five-year period. 
  • A member serving as LED President during the award cycle is not qualified for the nomination.
  • Nominations may be submitted by the individual or by another division member.

Review Criteria

  • Impact of Contributions
  • Innovation and Leadership
  • Sustainability and Engagement
  • Collaboration
  • Alignment with Division Goals

Rubric

Criteria

Excellent (4)

Good (3)

Satisfactory (2)

Needs Improvement (1)

1. Impact of Contributions

Significant contribution with clear outcomes benefiting the division or its members.

Contributions had a clear positive impact on division goals

Provides some benefits through ongoing participation.

Contribution has limited or unclear outcomes.

2. Innovation and Leadership

Introduced engaging ideas and new, high-impact activities; demonstrated exceptional leadership

Often leads or supports innovative efforts; positive influence on LED members.

Partially replicates or builds on previous work with limited original insight.

Lacks a distinct contribution to the division.

3. Sustainability and Engagement

Actively engaged over the past two years with a sustained record of impactful involvement.

Regular contributor with consistent engagement over time.

Periodic engagement or contributions with modest impact.

Irregular involvement or minimal engagement.

4. Collaboration

Built strong networks; actively engaged LED members

Fostered collaboration and engagement effectively.

Some collaboration; engagement was inconsistent.

Minimal collaboration or engagement efforts.

5. Alignment with Division Goals

Strong alignment with core LED goals; contributions directly advance strategic objectives.

Good alignment; contributions largely support the division's mission.

Partial alignment; indirect support for division activities.

Weak alignment; contribution not clearly tied to division priorities.

Selection

The LED awards task force or committee, composed of members approved by the LED Board, coordinates and reviews nominations, and recommends a finalist. The LED Board approves the awards task force or committee’s recommendation of the winner who will be notified before AECT's annual convention, where the award is presented. The LED Board reserves the right not to select an awardee.

Nomination Procedures

To submit a nomination, use the nomination form linked below. Complete the form and provide any additional information that may assist the awards committee. Name supporting files using the year (e.g., 2026), nominee's last name (e.g., SMITH), award name (Service), and a number (e.g., 1), separated by underscores (e.g., 2025_SMITH_Service_1). Acceptable file formats are .doc and .pdf.

You may nominate yourself or another individual for this award, and the same individual may be nominated for other AECT or division awards. However, an individual cannot receive multiple awards from LED. For questions or technical issues with the nomination form, the designated contact person from the LED Board. 

Nature of Award

Plaque or Certificate

Funding and Support

AECT

Timeline:

  • Submission Deadline. May 1
  • Committee Review Period: May 1-31
  • Board Final Deliberation: June 1-15
  • Decision: June 30
  • AECT Awards deadline: July 31
  • Award Winner Notification: August 1

Award Management on behalf of AECT: Learner Engagement Division

Approved by the LED Board on February 20, 2026