Awards

Every year the IWEA and the Water Environment Federation has a slate of honors and awards which are presented to deserving members, supporters, and facilities. Use the links below to learn more about the various awards and their past recipients. Please contact Jeffery Kowar, Awards Committee Chair, with any questions.


Member Association Awards:
These awards, listed below, are presented at the Illinois Water Environment Association Annual Meeting each year. You can find information regarding award criteria, nomination forms, and past recipients on the MEMBER ASSOCIATION AWARDS web page.

 

• WEF Arthur Sidney Bedell Award
  
  
  Congratulations to Lynn Kohlhaas, our 2025 award winner.
  
  This award acknowledges extraordinary personal service to a Member Association.
  
  Criteria for Nomination:
   - Any WEF Member
  
  Nomination Form
  Bedell Recipients
   
• IWEA Paul Clinebell Outstanding Service Award
  
  
  Congratulations to Dan Bounds, our 2025 award winner.
  
  This is a special/prestigious award to recognize an individual who has and continues to provide significant contributions to the Illinois Water Environment Association. The recipient will have given outstanding service to the IWEA over the longevity of their membership.
  
  Criteria for nomination:
  - Current primary member of the IWEA
  - IWEA member for a minimum of twenty years
  
  Nomination Form
  Clinebell Award Recipients
   
• Golden Manhole
  
  
  Congratulations to Tom McGreevy, our 2025 award winner.
  
  This award acknowledges an individual that has made significant contributions in promoting individual professionalism and pride among those working in the design, management, construction, operations and maintenance of collection systems. It also acknowledges contributions to the success of the Illinois Water Environment Association and its goals, and effort over an extensive period of time which has positively contributed to the betterment of individuals associated with collection systems.
  
  Golden Manhole Award Recipients
   
• WEF William Hatfield Award
  
  
  Congratulations to Wade Lagle, our 2025 award winner.
  
  This award acknowledges an operator of a wastewater treatment plant for outstanding performance and professionalism.
  
  Criteria for nomination:
  - WEF member employed by a municipal or industrial wastewater facility
  
  Nomination Form
  Hatfield Award Recipients
   
• WEF Laboratory Excellence Award
  
  
  Congratulations to Joy Hall, our 2025 award winner.
  
  This award acknowledges an individual for outstanding performance, professionalism, and contributions to the water quality analysis profession.
  
  Criteria for nomination:
   - WEF member employed by a municipal or industrial wastewater facility
  
  Nomination Form
  Laboratory Award Recipients
   
• Kenneth C. Merideth Award
  
  Congratulations to Greg Pyles, our 2025 award winner.
  
  This award acknowledges an individual who has performed duties above and beyond the usual employment requirements so as to elevate the status of the plant operator and promote operator professionalism within the State of Illinois.
  
  Nomination Form
  Merideth Award Recipients
   
• Outstanding Young Professional
  
  
  Congratulations to Megan Drew, our 2025 award winner.
  
  This Award recognizes the contribution of  young water environment professionals for significant contributions to the IWEA and to the advancement of knowledge, technology, and practices in the operation, management, design or construction of wastewater and pollutions prevention systems.
  
  Criteria for nomination:
  - IWEA member
  - 35 years old or younger at the time of nomination
  
  Nomination Form
  Outstanding Young Professional Award Recipients
   
• Public Official Award
  
  
  Congratulations to Dr. Rita Ali, our 2025 award winner.
  
  The Public Official Award is presented to a public official that has made a documented significant contribution in the areas of clean water legislation, public policy, government service or another area of public prominence that resulted in improvements to the water environment. The award can be presented for public service at local, state or federal level.
  
  Criteria for nomination:
  - Nominees must be an elected or appointed office, and do not need to be a member of WEF. 
  - Significant contribution that resulted in improvements to the water environment. 
  
  Nomination Form
  Public Official Award Recipients
   
• Technical Presentation Award
  
  
  Congratulations to Jennifer Sorensen, our 2025 award winner.
  
  This award is acknowledges outstanding presentations at the IWEA Annual Conference. The award recipient is chosen based on evaluations submitted by conference attendees.
  
  Technical Presentation Award Recipients

Other Awards

 

• Federation Level Awards:
  These awards are presented at the Water Environment Federation Annual Meeting (WEFTEC) each year. You can find award descriptions and nomination forms on the WEF website.
  
  WEF Award Descriptions & IWEA Recipients
  
   
• Quarter Century Operators Club:
  This award is presented to WEF members whom have been in wastewater treatment business for 25 years, 10 of which they have been actively involved in day-to-day  collections, maintenance, operations, laboratory, or management of a wastewater transportation or treatment facility. 
  
  Criteria for nomination:
  - Member of WEF for a minimum of five consecutive years immediately preceding application.
  - Significant, full-time participant in the water industry for a minimum of 25 years, 10 years of which must have been in active participation in the day-to-day collections, maintenance, operations, laboratory,or management of wastewater transportation or treatment facility.
  
  Nomination Form
  Quarter Century Operators Club Members
   
• Illinois Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (I5S):
  
  
  
  From High Atop Mt. Biosolids
  Please join us in congratulating our new 2025 Illinois Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (I5S) that were inducted at the IWPC Award Banquet: Christina Smith (City of St. Charles) and Matt McGregor (MWRGDC). 
  
  Selection to membership is in recognition of "outstanding, meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty" to the IWEA. Selection bestows the accolade of being elevated "To the highest pinnacle of the sludge bed, with the title of Select Sludge Shoveler and all the honor, atmosphere, prerequisite and dignity appertaining thereto." This is the 44th year that this prestigious honor has been granted. Congratulations Christina and Matt and thank you for many years of service and commitment to IWEA!
  
  Criteria for Nomination:
  - I5S members are nominated by the standing group of shovelers.  
  
  I5S Members