Awards FAQs

Each year the Entomological Society of America offer honors and awards that recognize scientists, educators, and students who have distinguished themselves through their contributions to entomology.

Learn more about these opportunities and nominate yourself or someone you know today!

- Where can I find a comprehensive list and information about honors and awards?

- Is there a difference between the ESA and Foundation honors and awards?

- Are there awards/honors specific to the ESA Branch/Section level?

- Are Branch awardees automatically considered for ESA National Awards?

- Are only ESA members eligible for the honors/awards?

- When is the deadline for nominations/submissions?

- How can I apply for an award/honor?

- Who can be nominated and what are the selection criteria?

- What is the selection process for selecting the Award winners?

- When are the winners announced?

- Is the information I submit going to be confidential?

- Who are the sponsors of awards and honors?

- Who judges the awards and honors?

- What do the honorees receive?

- Where can I find a list of past winners?

- Who can be nominated?

- Who can submit nominations?

- Will I receive a confirmation once I have submitted the nomination through the ESA Online Award Submission web site?

- Are there application fees?

- How many times can a person be nominated for an award?

- Can I make changes to my entry once it is submitted?

- What advice do you have for applying for an award/honor?

- I have a question that isn't answered in the FAQs. Who should I contact?


- Where can I find a comprehensive list and information about honors and awards?

Answer:  Visit the ESA Website at http://entsoc.org/awards/whats_available.

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- Is there a difference between the ESA and Foundation honors and awards?

Answer:  Yes, the ESA and the Entomological Foundation are separate organizations which offer separate honors and awards. These awards are facilitated independently by each organization. For more information about the Entomological Foundation, visit their website at www.entfdn.org .

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- Are there awards/honors specific to the ESA Branch/Section level?

Answer:  Yes, awards and honors are given at both the Branch and Section level.  For information about Branch/Section level awards/honors, please contact the Branch and/or Section directly.

Branches   Sections
Eastern Branch   Plant-Insect Ecosystems (P-IE)
International Branch   Medical, Urban, & Veterinary Entomology (MUVE)
North Central   Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology (PBT)
Pacific Branch   Systematics, Evolution, & Biodiversity (SysEB)
Southeastern Branch    
Southwestern Branch    


Note:  The ESA Headquarters does not administer the Branch and Section awards/honors.  Back to the top

- Are Branch awardees automatically considered for ESA National Awards?

Answer: No, Branch level awardees are not automatically qualified for the ESA Awards. Only nominations from ESA Branches are accepted for the ESA Distinguished Achievement Award in Extension, the ESA Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching and for the John Henry Comstock Graduate Student Awards – these are selected at the Branch level, are part of the national awards process, and awarded at the ESA Annual Meeting each year. Note that for these awards, members can only submit in one Branch.

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- Are only ESA members eligible for the honors/awards?

Answer:  There are different membership qualifications for each award/honor, please see individual the awards eligibility grid.    Back to the top

- When is the deadline for nominations/submissions?

Answer: 

ESA Honorary Membership & ESA Fellows– Deadline March 15

ESA Founders' Memorial Award– Deadline December 1

All other ESA Professional & Student Awards– Deadline June `1

A complete list of The Entomological Foundation deadlines are listed on the Entomological Foundation WebsiteBack to the top

- How can I apply for an award/honor?

Answer:  All award submissions (except the Branch awards) must go through the ESA Nominations Submission Website, including all Entomological Foundation nominations.   Back to the top

- Who can be nominated and what are the selection criteria?

Answer:  Each award has different selection criteria. To read more about individual award eligibility and nomination requirements please visit the What’s Available page on the awards website and click on the award of your interest or visit the awards eligibility grid .  Back to the top

- What is the selection process for selecting the Award winners?

Answer:  After nominations and applications are submitted, they are released to judging panels that consist of volunteer ESA members, who evaluate the packages and select the winners. For most ESA and Foundation awards, the Standing Committee on Awards and Honors selects the members on the judging panels, which make the final determination on awards. For procedural details on how ESA Honorary Membership and Fellows are selected, please consult the ESA BylawsBack to the top

- When are the winners announced?

Answer:  The nominees of the awards and honors are notified around mid August.  The winners are then published on the ESA website as a press release shortly thereafter. The winners are also honored at the ESA Annual Meeting which takes place each November.  Back to the top

- Is the information I submit going to be confidential?

Answer: Yes, all submissions are shared with the judging panel for that particular award/honor and are confidential.  Back to the top

- Who are the sponsors of awards and honors?

Answer:  The ESA and Entomological Foundation are grateful to the sponsors who provide support to the awards and honors program and are always looking for additional opportunities to recognize our members through sponsored awards.  For a complete listing of sponsors, click here. To sponsor an award, contact Cindy MyersBack to the top

- Who judges the awards and honors?

Answer:  After nominations and applications are submitted, they are released to judging panels that consist of volunteer ESA members, who evaluate the packages and select the winners. For most ESA and Foundation awards, the Standing Committee on Awards and Honors selects the members on the judging panels, which make the final determination on awards. For procedural details on how ESA Honorary Membership and Fellows are selected, please consult the ESA BylawsBack to the top

- What do the honorees receive?

Answer:  The prizes vary for each award/honor. All include recognition at the ESA Annual Meeting. Some also include cash, plaques, and support for attending the meeting. For more details, please visit the What’s Available page on the ESA awards Website and click on the award of your interest for details.  Back to the top

- Where can I find a list of past winners?

Answer:  For a complete list of past winners for ESA and Entomological Foundation awards, click here.   Back to the top

- Who can be nominated?

Answer:  Each award and honor has different criteria, please visit the What’s Available page on the ESA awards Website and click on the award of your interest for details.  Back to the top

- Who can submit nominations?

Answer:  Nominations for most ESA and Entomological Foundation awards and honors may be submitted by anyone.

Exceptions: Only nominations from ESA Branches are accepted for:
1) ESA Distinguished Achievement Award in Extension
2) ESA Distinguished Achievement  Award in Teaching
3) Foundation's Award for Excellence in IPM
4) ESA John Henry Comstock Graduate Student Awards - Each Branch has its own selection criteria for these awards; such criteria and instructions are available from the respective Branch Secretary-Treasurer.

Each Branch is limited to one new nomination per year; however, certain Branch re-nominations will be accepted for ESA and Foundation Awards. Note that ESA members can only submit for these awards in one Branch. Please see each award's individual web page for details.

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- Will I receive a confirmation once I have submitted the nomination through the ESA Online Award Submission web site?

Answer:  Yes, once the submission is successfully submitted, an automated confirmation is forwarded to you.  In many instances we recommend for people to check their spam folders or adjust their settings for the email account for this confirmation.    Back to the top

- Are there application fees?

Answer:  No, there are no fees for applications or nominations for an award/honor.  Back to the top

- How many times can a person be nominated for an award?

Answer:  Any candidate nominated, but not selected for that year, may be re-nominated no more than two times within the two-year period after his/her initial submission. Nomination packages will be retained for two years by both ESA and Entomological Foundation headquarters. Please review the re-nomination process for the individual award you wish to submit a re-nomination package to renominations procedure.  For more details, please visit the What’s Available page on the ESA awards Website and click on the award of your interest for details.  Back to the top

- Can I make changes to my entry once it is submitted?

Answer:  Yes, you may make changes to a nomination package prior to the award deadline.    Back to the top

- What advice do you have for applying for an award/honor?

Answer:  Start compiling the nomination package as early as possible. Also, be sure all requirements and criteria for the nomination package are included when submitting the package.  Back to the top

- I have a question that isn't answered in the FAQs. Who should I contact?

Answer: 

For Entomological Foundation, Certification Corporation, and ESA Awards and Honors: Cindy Myers

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