Past Award Recipients

Ben H. Parker Memorial Distinguished Service Medal

The Ben H. Parker Memorial Medal is the Institute’s most distinguished award. It was established by the Executive Committee, in 1969, in posthumous honor of a truly great leader and one of the most articulate and effective advocates for the improvement of the profession of geology. The medal is awarded to individuals who have long records of distinguished and outstanding service to the profession. It is a tribute to Ben H. Parker, a person who gave much of his life to improve the quality of geology, geologists, and the services they provide. The following outstanding geologists have been awarded the Ben H. Parker Memorial Medal.

Martin Van Couvering Memorial Service to the Institute Award

The Martin Van Couvering Memorial Award was established by the Executive Committee, in 1979, in posthumous honor of the first President of the Institute. Martin Van Couvering made the presidency a full-time occupation for the first two years of the Institute’s history. His dynamic leadership, diplomacy, and organizational abilities established the solid foundation from which the Institute has grown. Few, if any, have given so much to the Institute. The following outstanding persons have been recipients of the Martin Van Couvering Memorial Award.

John T. Galey, Sr., Memorial Public Service Award

The Public Service Award was established by the Executive Committee, in 1982, in recognition of one of its primary purposes; service to the public. In 1992, it was renamed the John T. Galey, Sr., Memorial Public Service Award, in posthumous honor of our fourth President, whose long professional career was a continuum of service to both the geological and the general public. This recognition is important because so many members have distinguished themselves and the Institute by giving expert testimony to governmental units, by serving on governmental commissions and committees, and by providing geological expertise where it was needed by the public at large.

Award of Honorary Membership

For the first time in its history, AIPG in 1984 conferred Honorary Membership on one of its most distinguished and illustrious members. This special honor, provided for in the Institute’s Constitution and Bylaws, had long been available but had never before been granted. The most important criterion for this award is an exemplary record of distinguished service to the profession and to the Institute.

Presidential Certificate of Merit

Each year, the President of the American Institute of Professional Geologists may award one or more certificates of merit to individuals who, through dedicated and meritorious service, have made an outstanding contribution to the Institute. The award, the Presidential Certificate of Merit, is announced and presented to the recipient at the Annual Meeting.

Outstanding Achievement Award Major Contribution to the Profession

The Outstanding Achievement Award Major Contribution to the Profession was established by the 1989 Executive Committee to honor a non-member of AIPG who is widely recognized as a major contributor to the profession of geology. The award is not necessarily given annually, but only when the Awards Committee recommends an outstanding candidate to the Executive Committee for their consideration.

AIPG Section Leadership Award

The AIPG Section Leadership Award was established by the Executive Committee in 2013 to recognize one or more of our members who have demonstrated a long-term commitment and have been long-term contributors to AIPG at the section level. AIPG has many sections where one or more individuals have demonstrated exceptional leadership for their section and in many instances kept the section together and moving forward.  These individuals are commonly not known at the National level or by AIPG members outside of their sections, however, their contributions have been vital to their sections and they perform this work because of their commitment to our profession and AIPG.  The award will consist of a plaque (or similar) that will be presented to the awardees at the banquet of the annual meeting of AIPG.

Based on the above criteria the Awards Committee may select multiple nominees for the award.

The AIPG Section Leadership Award is administered by the Executive Committee of AIPG.  The selection of the winning member(s) will be decided by the AIPG Awards Committee.  The deadline for submittal of nominees for the AIPG Section Leadership Award, to AIPG National Headquarters, is January 15th of each year.  The nomination form for AIPG Section Leadership Award is presented below. The awardees will be announced in early July so they may attend the annual meeting.

AIPG Student Chapter of the Year Award

The purpose of the AIPG Student Chapter of the Year Award is to recognize the most outstanding student chapter for their participation in, and contribution to, the American Institute of Professional Geologists. The award will consist of a plaque to be presented to the student chapter, a certificate to each of the officers of the chapter at the time of their submittal, a $500.00 award for the chapter, and a trip for one member of the winning student chapter to the annual AIPG conference and executive meetings. The student that attends the annual meeting will observe the organization and functions of AIPG and participate in the executive board meeting.

Recipients of the AIPG Student Chapter Award

2017 - Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan - AIPG Student Chapter Founded 2012. Chapter Sponsor: John H. Barkach, CPG-09121 and Faculty Sponsor: Jeffrey L. Howard. 
Student Chapter Officers: President - Mara Karageozian, SA-7079; Vice President - Erin D'Hondt, SA-6007; Secretary - Melissa Weaver, SA-7775; Treasurer: Makayla Myers, SA-7779; Event Coordinator: Alex Schreiber, SA-7082.