Nominations are solicited for the following awards that will be presented at each WAEA Annual Meeting. 

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Distinguished Scholar Award:

Purpose of the Award:

To recognize individuals making an enduring contribution over their career to agricultural, resource, and/or environmental economics in the Western states and the WAEA, demonstrating excellence in some combination of the following areas of performance:
     • Basic and applied economics research
     • Integration of knowledge (textbook writing or synthetic reviews)
     • Service or outreach drawing on economic expertise
     • Teaching (undergraduate and/or graduate)
     • Administration (institution and/or WAEA).

Nomination process:

Any member of the association may nominate any living member for the honor of election as Distinguished Scholar by submitting the name to the chair of the selection committee listed below no later than the announced date. Documentation shall include a brief vitae (not to exceed six pages, double spaced) along with a nomination letter describing why the person is worthy of the honor. The total nomination package will be limited to a maximum of eight typed, double spaced pages. A nominee must be a current member of the association, having been a member for a total of at least 20 years.

Nomination Pool:

The Distinguished Scholars Selection Committee is responsible to augment the pool of nominees obtained from the general membership with economists who they feel should be considered for this recognition.

Distinguished Scholars Selection Committee:

The Distinguished Scholars Selection Committee shall operate with a chairperson revolving annually and is comprised of four Scholars, the Past President of the association, and WAEA Directors.

Announcement of Election:

The names of the newly elected Scholars shall be announced at the annual meeting of the association by the President of the association or his/her appointed representative, who shall read a statement regarding the achievements of each Scholar and shall present a plaque of recognition to each person so honored. The statements regarding achievements and photographs of the winners shall be published in the December issue of the Journal of  Agricultural and Resource Economics.

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Published Research Award:

Purpose of Award:

To recognize outstanding research by members of the Association.

Nature of the Award:

The award will be called "Outstanding Published Research Award of the Western Agricultural Economics Association".  This award shall be made annually at the WAEA meeting.  The winner(s) will receive a certificate.

Eligibility Requirements:

At least one of the authors must be a member of the Association in the year the paper was published.  Only research reports bearing a 2011 publication date will be considered.  Textbooks will not be considered published research for purpose of this award.

Eligibility Criteria:

1) Importance and significance of the results,
2) Quality of the work, and
3) Effectiveness of reporting.

Procedure:

1) Nominations must be made by WAEA members and/or departments located within the geographic scope of the Association.
2) An electronic copy (pdf format is preferred) of each publication will be emailed to the chair of the selection committee.
3) Selection of the award winner(s) will be made by a committee.

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Graduate Paper or Master's Thesis Award

Purpose of Award:

To recognize outstanding research by graduate students from WAEA institutions

Nature of the Award:

The award will be called "Outstanding Graduate Paper or Thesis Award for the Western Agricultural Economics Association."  This award will be made annually at the WAEA meeting.  The winner will receive a certificate and a $500 check.

Eligibility Requirements:

Nominees must have completed the master's degree at a WAEA institution during the calendar year prior to the association meeting.  Only thesis or graduate papers bearing a completion date within the calendar year prior to the association meeting may be submitted from a WAEA institution.

Evaluation criteria:

1) Importance of the problem or topic
2) Significance of the results
3) Quality of the work
4) Effectiveness of reporting.

Procedures:

Undergraduate Teaching Awards

Purpose of Award:

To recognize Outstanding teaching of students and related activities by members of the association.

Nature of Awards:

Two awards may be given.  (1) The first shall be called "Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award of the Western Agricultural Economics Association with less than 10 years experience".  (2) The second will be called "Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award of the Western Agricultural Economics Association with more than 10 years experience".  The winner(s) will receive a certificate(s).  This award will be made annually at the WAEA meeting.

Eligibility Requirements:

Nominees must be members of the Association and be actively involved in teaching and related activities.  Previous award winners are not eligible for the same award.

Evaluation Criteria:

(1) Personal interest in and availability to students,
(2) Mastery of subject matter (course content),
(3) Creativity in designing and using innovative teaching methods,
(4) Impact on learning, based on student and peer evaluation, and
(5) Impact on departmental teaching program.

Procedures:

1) Nominations may be made by Association members and/or departments located within the geographic scope of the Association.
2) Nomination Packet. 
   (a) The nominator should submit a letter of nomination, supplementary tables and supporting items if desired.  The letter of nomination should summarize the teaching accomplishments of the nominee with respect to the criteria outlined above.  The nomination letter is limited to no more than three pages (single spaced). 
   (b) Summary tables may be added to the letter of nomination to provide supplemental and supporting data.  NOTE: Summary tables will not be counted as part of the three page limit for the nomination letter and will also not be counted as one of the three supporting items.
   (c) A maximum of three supporting items (letters of recommendation, publications, videos, etc.) may also be included.  Each letter, publication , video, etc. counts as one item.
3) Electronic files of all materials shall be sent to the chair of the awards committee.  Supporting materials may be scanned and submitted.
4) Selection of the award winner(s) will be made by a committee.

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Extension Program Awards

Purpose of Awards:

To recognize outstanding extension programs by members of the Association.

Nature of Awards:

Two awards may be given annually. (1) The first shall be called the "Outstanding Extension Program Award of the Western Agricultural Economics Association, for Project".  This award shall be given to programs that are of less than or equal to five years duration. (2) The second shall be called "Outstanding Extension Program Award of the Western Agricultural Economics Association, for Career".  This award shall be given to programs that are of more than five years duration. These awards may be made annually at the WAEA meeting. The winner(s) will receive a certificate.

Eligibility requirements:

Nominee(s) must be actively involved in programs of informal education for audiences external to the university.  The program may be that of either an individual or a group of individuals working as a team.  If given to a team, at least one member of the team must be a member of the Association.  If given to an individual, the winner must be a member.

Evaluation Criteria:

1) Importance of the problem or subject,
2) Cost effectiveness of the program,
3) Appropriateness of the economic analysis,
4) Effectiveness of communication methods, and
5) Evidence of accomplishments of objectives and positive impact on target audience(s).

Procedures:

1) Nominations must be made by Association members and/or departments located within the geographic scope of the Association.
2) Nomination Packet. 
   (a) The nominator should submit a letter of nomination, supplementary tables and supporting items if desired.  The letter of nomination should summarize the accomplishments of the nominee with respect to the criteria outlined above.  The nomination letter is limited to no more than three pages (single spaced). 
   (b) Summary tables may be added to the letter of nomination to provide supplemental and supporting data.  NOTE: Summary tables will not be counted as part of the three-page limit for the nomination letter and will also not be counted as one of the three supporting items.
   (c) A maximum of three supporting items (letters of recommendation, publications, videos, etc.) may also be included.  Each letter of nomination, publication, video, etc. counts as one item.
3) Electronic files of all materials shall be emailed to the chair of the awards committee.  Supporting materials may be scanned and submitted.
4) Selection of the award winner(s) will be made by a committee.

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Purpose of Awards:

To recognize outstanding undergraduate seniors who have achieved excellence in their academic achievements and of whom much is expected of their future contributions to agricultural, resource, and/or environmental economics in the Western states.

Nature of Awards:

The awards will be called "Outstanding Senior Award of the Western Agricultural Economics Association".  These awards shall be distributed annually by the WAEA to department contacts, who shall distribute to selected students.  The winner(s) will receive a certificate, 1-yr WAEA membership (including only the WEF publication not the JARE). All recipient names and institutions will be included in the WAEA Awards program and posted in the WAEA website.

Eligibility requirements:

One senior standing student may be selected by each degree granting institution in the nineteen western states of the United States (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming) and four western provinces of Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan).

Evaluation Criteria:

Decisions are made by individual departments.

Procedures:

1) Selected student names and department contact information should be emailed to the WAEA President.
2) Certificates and journals shall be mailed to the Department, not to the student.