Epsilon Sigma Phi Award Descriptions

State Awards

For information on how to submit nominations for the following awards see the Epsilon Sigma Phi Awards instructions page.

Friends of Extension

To recognize outstanding contributions and support of Extension programs and its mission at the local, area and/or state level.

Eligibility: Any person(s) or business entity who has provided outstanding support and service.

This award nomination will be evaluated using the following criteria:

Achievements showing continued leadership and support in programming, delivery, and/or administration of Extension efforts

Up to five nominees may receive the recognition per year.

No limit as to the number of nominees that may be submitted per area.

Please use the Friends of Extension Nomination Form (Microsoft Word document) to submit nominations for this award.

State Distinguished Service

Recognizes a person who has made an outstanding contribution to extension education throughout his/her career.

Eligibility: May be a present or past member of extension. May be a past recipient of either the Iowa Certificate of Recognition or Meritorious Service. Must be a member of Epsilon Sigma Phi.

This award nomination will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Career has demonstrated outstanding efforts in program planning and development, including educational leadership, audience involvement, and impact evaluation. Career has demonstrated outstanding efforts in program implementation, including when appropriate, teaching effectiveness, credibility with clientele, and organizational skills. Career has demonstrated consistently high success in meeting program Career has demonstrated outstanding cooperation with other staff in support of ISU Extension goals. Career has demonstrated continual personal and professional growth and development.

State, Alpha Mu Chapter, Certificate of Meritorious Service

To recognize the total extension effort by an individual. The majority of the effort should have been carried out during the past 5 years. The recognition could be for education programs and/or organizational efforts.It could include efforts that are normally expected of staff, but carried out with much originality or creativity.

Eligibility: County, area, and campus staff (including administrative staff) who are members of Epsilon Sigma Phi. A person may receive the award only once as an individual.

This award nomination will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Efforts are timely and relevant to current ISU Extension priorities. Efforts demonstrate innovation, creativity, and originality in development or implementation. Efforts demonstrated positive impact on intended audience, both in terms of quantity and quality. Efforts show evidence of involvement of other people, either within or outside of ISU Extension.

State Mid-Career Service

To recognize mid-career (10-20 years in extension) ESP members for outstanding professional achievement. (Based on employment length as of Sept. 1, 2007)

Eligibility: County, area, and campus staff (including administrative staff) who are members of Epsilon Sigma Phi. A person may receive the award only once as an individual.

This award nomination will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Achievements showing continued leadership and excellence in program planning, delivery, and/or administration. Evidence of continual personal and professional growth and development.

State Early Career Service

To recognize early career (Less than 10 years in extension) ESP members for outstanding professional achievement. (Based on employment length as of Sept. 1, 2007)

Eligibility: County, area, and campus staff (including administrative staff) who are members of Epsilon Sigma Phi. A person may receive the award only once as an individual.

This award nomination will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Achievements showing enthusiasm, performance, and accomplishment in program design and delivery. Evidence of continual personal and professional growth and development.

State Team

Recognizes a team of extension staff who are responding to and incorporating into a specific educational program one or more of the National Initiatives identified by the Cooperative Extension System.

Eligibility: County, area, and campus staff teams (including administration) who are members of Epsilon Sigma Phi.

This award nomination will be evaluated using the following criteria:
National issue addressed. Resources involved: Team members, volunteers, cooperators/agencies and funds, supplies or equipment utilized. Methods used: Innovative or creative problem solving, educational or delivery methods, etc. Results: Who benefited, what were the impacts, how did lives or communities change, what are the implications for future progress, etc.

State Retiree Service

Recognizes a retired Extension professional who continues to give to ISU Extension programs as a volunteer and who is also involved in other community activities.

Eligibility: Retired Extension staff who are members of Epsilon Sigma Phi. Include the retirement date of the nominee on the award nomination form.

This nomination will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Assistance to, interest in, and support of ISU Extension Programs that has helped ISU Extension--50 points Interest in and support of ISU programs--25 points Other communities activities--25 points

State Visionary Leadership Recognition

Recognizes an Extension professional whose significant accomplishments have resulted in leading Extension forward in new directions. This person's visionary leadership enabled Extension to anticipate a significant new opportunity and developed support to implement program organizational changes necessary to achieve success.

Eligibility: County, area or campus staff (including administrative staff) who are past or present members of Extension.

Award Criteria: Nominees visionary leadership role in enabling Extension to anticipate a significant new opportunity and implement organizational changes necessary to achieve success.

The award nomination should include the following kinds of information:
Resources involved--volunteers, cooperators,/agencies and funds, supplies or equipment utilized. Methods used--innovative or creative problem-solving, educational delivery methods, etc. Results--who benefited, what were the impacts, how did lives change or communities change, what were the implications for future programs, etc.?
The award nominations will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Followed the Information Guidelines--10 points Magnitude and Accomplishments--45 points Scale of Organizational Change from Past Norms--45 points

Regional Awards

For all regional and national awards, complete the nomination following the directions given with each award.

Regional Mid-Career Service

To recognize members in mid-career tenure for significant accomplishments and valuable contributions to the Extension Service through program planning, delivery, and/or administration.

Eligibility: Extension experience must total 10 to 20 years. County, area, and campus staff (including administration) who are members of Epsilon Sigma Phi. (Based on employment length as of Sept. 1, 2007)

Award Criteria:
Program, professionalism, contribution to total program. Emphasize contributions of a state or regional nature to extension.

Format for Biographical Statement: The nomination should include the following information about the candidate. Limit the statement to no more than both sides of one standard 8 1/2" X 11" sheet of paper.

Name in full.
Current address, including zip code.
Date and place of birth.
Education background--institutions, dates of attendance, degrees.
Career--chronological order of employment by position, title, places, dates, and name of employer(s).
Accomplishments--achievements and honors that particularly relate to extension, authorship (books, articles,bulletins, speeches), work on committees (task forces, study groups), and special leadership positions held.
Review nominee's outstanding accomplishments in extension program planning, delivery, and/or administration on a state or regional level.

Regional Distinguished Service

Recognizes a person who has contributed significantly to extension on both a regional and state basis.

Eligibility: County, area and campus staff (including administrative staff) who are members of Epsilon Sigma Phi.

Award Criteria: Nominees are to have contributed significantly to extension development on a regional (e.g., North Central) basis.

Name in full.
Current address, including zip code.
Date and place of birth.
Educational background--institutions, dates of attendance, degrees.
Career--chronological order of employment by position, title, places, dates, and name of employer(s).
Accomplishments--achievements and honors that particularly relate to extension, authorship (books, articles, bulletins, speeches), work on committees (task forces, study groups), and special leadership positions held.
Review nominee's continuing leadership, initiative and excellence in extension program planning, delivery, and/or administration on a state or regional basis.

National Awards

National, International Service

Recognizes a person who has contributed significantly to extension development in other countries.

Eligibility: County, area and campus staff (including administration) who are members of Epsilon Sigma Phi.

Award Criteria: Nominees are to have contributed significantly to extension development in other countries through stateside and/or overseas work.

Format for Biographical Statement: The nomination should include the following information about the candidate. Limit the statement to 400 words or no more than both sides of one standard 8 1/2" X 11" sheet of paper.

Name in full.
Current address, including zip code.
Date and place of birth.
Education background--institutions, dates of attendance, degrees.
Career--chronological order of employment by position, title, dates, and name of employer(s).
Accomplishments--achievements and honors that particularly relate to extension, authorship (books, articles, bulletins, speeches), work on committees (task forces, study groups), and special leadership positions held.
Review nominee's outstanding accomplishments. It is important to show clearly the role played by the candidate and the results of his/her efforts in terms of accomplishment, e.g., teaching/training foreign students in the U.S. about Extension, providing technical assistance in a cooperating/host country, implementing new ideas and/or research in a host country, assisting with programs in a host country, or showing demonstrated competence in program leadership in education.

ISU Extension Homepage Awards Homepage Instructions on submitting ESP awards nominations

...and justice for all. The Iowa Cooperative Extension Services's programs and policies are consistent with pertinent federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, and disability.

Please send comments and questions to Daniel Ossian:( dnossian@iastate.edu )
Last update: January 30, 2008 .