ISU Extension Award Descriptions

Distinguished Service

Given as a tribute to Marvin A. Anderson, the first Dean of Extension at ISU, this is the top career award in ISU Extension. It recognizes sustained distinguished performance and educational contributions to ISU and clientele through Extension programs.

Eligibility: All ISU Extension professional employees

Number awarded: One

Award: Plaque and $500

Award Criteria: Career demonstrates
  • that recipient has excelled in assigned duties to ISU Extension,
  • consistently strong leadership skills and credibility with clientele,
  • outstanding efforts in planning, implementation (including educational leadership and audience involvement), and impact evaluation,
  • outstanding collaborative efforts to reach ISU Extension goals,
  • personal and professional development.

Meritorious Service

For meritorious achievements and educational contributions to clientele through dedication to duty and significant contributions to the mission of ISU Extension over time.

Eligibility: All ISU Extension professional employees

Number awarded: Up to six per year

Award: Plaque

Award Criteria: Career demonstrates
  • strong leadership skills and credibility with clientele,
  • outstanding efforts in planning, implementation (including educational leadership and audience involvement), and impact evaluation,
  • supports collaborative efforts to reach ISU Extension goals,
  • personal and professional development.

Achievement by an Individual

To recognize a single outstanding ISU Extension effort by an individual. The majority of the effort should have been carried out during the past three years. It could include efforts that are normally expected of staff, but carried out with much originality or creativity.

Eligibility: All ISU Extension employees

Number awarded: Three to four per year.

Award: Framed citation

Award Criteria: Effort 
  • is relevant to ISU Extension mission,
  • shows positive impact on clients,
  • is timely and relevant to priorities in the field in which nominee(s) work(s),
  • shows evidence of involvement of other people, either within or outside of ISU Extension (applies to team award),
  • demonstrates innovation, creativity, and originality.

Team Achievement Award - Educational

To recognize a single outstanding ISU Extension effort by an team for educational programing. Efforts considered would be those normally expected but carried out with originality and creativity.

Eligibility: All ISU Extension employees

Number awarded: Three to four per year.

Award: Framed citation for team leader

Award Criteria: Effort 
  • is relevant to ISU Extension mission,
  • shows positive impact on clients,
  • is timely and relevant to priorities in the field in which nominee(s) work(s),
  • shows evidence of involvement of other people, either within or outside of ISU Extension (applies to team award),
  • demonstrates innovation, creativity, and originality,
  • shows leadership by ISU Extension staff,
  • demonstrates entrepreneurial efforts.

Team Achievement Award - Organizational

To recognize a single outstanding ISU Extension effort by a team for an organizational effort - improving system quality. Efforts considered would be those normally expected but carried out with originality and creativity.

Eligibility: All ISU Extension employees

Number awarded: Three to four per year.

Award: Framed citation for team leader

Award Criteria: Effort 
  • is relevant to ISU Extension mission,
  • shows positive impact on clients,
  • is timely and relevant to priorities in the field in which nominee(s) work(s),
  • shows evidence of involvement of other people, either within or outside of ISU Extension (applies to team award),
  • demonstrates innovation, creativity, and originality,
  • shows leadership by ISU Extension staff,
  • demonstrates entrepreneurial efforts.

Diversity Achievement

Eligibility: All ISU Extension employees.

Number Awarded: Up to two per year

Award: Plaque

Award Criteria: Outstanding performance in one or more of the following
 
  • teaching that increases clients' awareness of the value of diversity and that promotes better human relationships and understanding of diverse points of view;
  • involving people of diverse backgrounds in extension decision-making bodies and programs;
  • effective educational efforts to diverse audiences.

New Professional

To recognize new Extension professionals who have made significant contributions to achievement of the goals of ISUE.

Eligibility: All ISU Extension professional employees with five years or less of extension work in any state as of September 1 of the year in which the award is presented.

Number awarded: Up to five per year

Award: Framed citation

Award Criteria: Overall accomplishments 
  • are relevant to ISU Extension values,
  • show positive impact on clients,
  • are timely and relevant to priorities in field in which nominee(s) work(s),
  • show evidence of involvement of other people, either within or outside of ISU Extension,
  • demonstrate innovation, creativity, and originality.

ISU Pride of Extension

To recognize an innovative project or effort to meet extension client needs and consistently strong office or program management skills.

Eligibility: ISU Extension support staff (not A-base and P-base appointments) including office assistants, secretaries, program assistants, and others.

Number Awarded: Up to eight per year

Award: Framed citation

Award Criteria:
  • Development or implementation of an innovative effort that helps ISU Extension meet client needs,
  • Demonstrating a positive attitude, adaptability, respect for co-workers and clients, and team building, and
  • Outstanding management skills

R.K. Bliss

To recognize outstanding achievement by an ISU Extension staff member in developing an overall or continuing extension education program.

Eligibility: Cooperative Extension county staff and field specialists.

Number Awarded: Two per year, one to a male and one to a female

Award: Plaque and cash award

Award Criteria: Career demonstrates 
  • outstanding efforts in program implementation, including when appropriate, teaching effectiveness, credibility with clientele, and organizational skills,
  • outstanding efforts in program planning and development, including educational leadership, audience involvement, and impact evaluation,
  • outstanding cooperation with other staff in support of University Extension goals,
  • continual personal and professional growth and development.

County Extension Education Director Excellence Award

To recognize sustained distinguished performance and educational contributions to ISU and clientele by a county extension education director.

Eligibility: ISU Extension staff who have served as county extension education directors for three years or longer

Number awarded: One

Award: Framed Citation and $500

Award Criteria: Career demonstrates:

  • Ability to work effectively with county extension council in setting county priorities
  • Creative, innovative, and original office management achievement, with good management and supervision skills
  • Creative, innovative and original program management achievement, delivering a well-rounded program involving all program areas and quantifiable successes
  • Team player with field specialists and other county directors
  • Community connectedness, seen as major player by others
  • Ability to access additional resources (grants, collaborations, etc.)
  • Service outside the county to extension committees, professional organizations, etc.

4-H Youth Directors Award

To recognize a professional staff member for outstanding programming in 4-H in terms of quality and quantity of program. Program efforts should include a variety of components with an intentional effort to expand content and/or the audience base for 4-H programming. Recognition will be for overall programming rather than a single effort.

Eligibility: Extension professional (CEED, Field Specialist, State Specialist or any other professional) staff working with youth at the county area or state level.

Award: Plaque and a $250 cash award to be presented annually.

Award Criteria: Overall accomplishments: 

  • demonstrate positive impact on intended clients,
  • demonstrate innovation, creativity, originality, and expansion of the audience base,
  • timely and relevant to priorities in field in which nominee(s) work(s),
  • show evidence of involvement of other people, either within or outside of ISU Extension.

Margaret K. Yoder Extension to Families New Professional

To recognize a new staff member for outstanding extension programming to families in terms of quality, quantity, and/or overall program development process. The individual may be recognized for a single effort, but overall program will be considered as well.

Eligibility: Extension to Families staff members (field or state) with five years of service or less in Extension work as of Sept. 1 of the year the award is presented.

Award: Certificate and a $250 cash award.

Award Criteria: Overall accomplishments
  • are timely and relevant to ISU Extension mission,
  • demonstrate a positive and measurable impact on clients,
  • show evidence of involvement of other people either within or outside of ISU Extension,
  • demonstrate innovation, creativity, and originality.

Excellence in Agricultural Extension Programs Award -- Livestock  

To recognize a professional field staff member for outstanding performance in agriculture livestock programming. The nominee's efforts should include a variety of components demonstrating innovation, creativity and originality. Recognition will be for overall programming rather than a single effort.

Eligibility: Extension field specialist working with livestock programs or County Extension Education Director with academic degree (masters) in agricultural discipline.

Award Criteria: Overall accomplishments:

  • are timely and relevant to ISU Extension mission,
  • demonstrate a positive and measurable impact on clients,
  • show evidence of involvement of other people either within or outside of ISU Extension,
  • demonstrate innovation, creativity, and originality. 

Award: Certificate and a $500 cash award to be presented annually.

Excellence in Agricultural Extension Programs Award -- Crops 

To recognize a professional field staff member for outstanding performance in agriculture crops programming. The nominee's efforts should include a variety of components demonstrating innovation, creativity and originality. Recognition will be for overall programming rather than a single effort.

Eligibility: Extension field specialist working with crop programs or County Extension Education Director with academic degree (masters) in agricultural discipline.

Award Criteria: Overall accomplishments:

  • are timely and relevant to ISU Extension mission,
  • demonstrate a positive and measurable impact on clients,
  • show evidence of involvement of other people either within or outside of ISU Extension,
  • demonstrate innovation, creativity, and originality. 

Award: Certificate and a $500 cash award to be presented annually.

Project Family Partnership Award 

To recognize exemplary work on the part of field staff that contributes significantly to, Project Family at the Institute for Social and Behavioral Research. The project forms community-university partnerships aimed at:

  • Generating knowledge that will advance the science of family and youth competency building, and
  • Improving the well being of families and children.

Eligibility: Any extension field staff person, full or part-time, who has completed three years of continuous employment in his or her current position at the time of nomination.

Award Criteria: Overall accomplishments:

  • Developing linkages between Community prevention activities and Project Family research projects,
  • Providing leadership in connecting Project Family staff with families and other community stakeholders,
  • Exhibiting exceptional leadership in community activities that enhance Project Family Goals,
  • Assisting in breaking down barriers between science-based projects and local communities, and
  • Connecting local prevention initiatives with Project Family's prevention partnerships as appropriate.

Award: Recognition plaque and a $1,000 cash award to be presented annually.

ISU Extension Homepage Awards Homepage

Please send comments and questions to Del Marks: (delmarks@iastate.edu)
Last update: Sept. 6, 2001.