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NAGARA Annual Awards Program
Celebrating the leaders and innovators of government archives and records management.
Nominations Are Open for 2027
Nomination Deadline
Friday, April 2, 2027
Nominations require the completion of an application form, which includes a 200-word abstract and a detailed narrative statement of 500 to 1,500 words explaining why the nominee is deserving of the award. Additionally, some nominations may include supplementary questions aligned with the award criteria. Supporting materials such as endorsement letters, news articles, and other relevant documents may also be submitted to strengthen the nomination.
Submit a Nomination!
Annually, NAGARA recognizes leaders and innovators in the field of government archives and records management with our Annual Awards Program. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of your associates and friends in NAGARA.
Each award has unique requirements for eligibility and criteria for selection. Do you know a colleague who has found creative ways to further diversity, equity, and inclusion? Is there someone who deserves recognition for a significant contribution to NAGARA or the profession? This year's honorees will be celebrated at the Annual Awards Luncheon during the 2026 NAGARA Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA, with next year's recipients recognized at the 2027 NAGARA Annual Conference in Denver, CO. Award recipients are also featured on the NAGARA website and social media throughout the year.
Select an award below to learn more about eligibility, selection criteria, and past recipients.
Also to Consider
Recipients of NAGARA's annual awards program reap benefits in numerous ways:
Government, state and local representatives all enjoy when good things happen in their communities and to their constituents. These awards confirm that good things are happening.
Acknowledgement from peers as well as a national professional organization creates notability from the recipient's office and agency.
Award recipients obtain extra opportunities for press releases and photo-ops to draw attention to their respective archival and records programs. The award even opens doors for recipients to be acknowledged at a regular public meeting of their government.
Recipients receive bragging rights, thus calling attention to our profession and the important work we do.
The award promotes the recipient's program/agency and may be used to introduce new users to their collections and public services.
Bruce W. Dearstyne Distinguished Service Award
Award Description
The Bruce W. Dearstyne Distinguished Service Award is a prestigious career recognition honor designed to acknowledge NAGARA members who have made significant contributions through their volunteer service and leadership within the organization. This award celebrates the extensive commitment, leadership, and achievements of both current and past NAGARA members, offering the highest level of appreciation, esteem, respect, and regard from the association.
Selection Criteria
This award is open to current and former NAGARA members who have volunteered and held leadership roles within the organization and have at least 10 years of service with the organization. The selection for this award focuses on individuals whose volunteer service and leadership have had a lasting and broad impact on both the association mission and the profession. The criteria for evaluation include:
Strategic Impact and Leadership:
How has the nominee's leadership and volunteer service advanced NAGARA's strategic objectives and enhanced its programs?
Contribution Quality and Excellence:
Does the contribution reflect a high standard of excellence and innovation in execution?
Sustained Commitment:
Has the individual demonstrated a long-term commitment to the association through substantial effort and dedication?
Community and Member Impact:
How has the individual's contribution positively affected the NAGARA community and been received by its members?
Past Award Recipients
2026
No Recipient
2025
Jelain Chubb
2024
No Recipient
2023
Galen Wilson
2022
No Recipient
2021
Dr. Lewis J. (Lew) Ballardo
2020
No Recipient
2019
Preston Huff
2018
Mary Beth Herkert
2017
Tanya Marshall
2016
Kaye Lanning Minchew
2015
No Recipient
2014
Paul R. Bergeron
2013
Jim Berberich
2012
Roy H. Tryon
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Award
Award Description
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Award recognizes individuals or groups for exemplary work in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusiveness within the government archives and records management profession. This award honors efforts that significantly increase diversity and remove barriers for underserved populations.
Selection Criteria
This award is open to all NAGARA members and groups including NAGARA members. If awarded to a group, the product, project, or program must demonstrate that a NAGARA member (individual or government program) played a significant role in its development and implementation. This award is given to programs or individuals who have achieved one or more of the following:
Fostering an Inclusive Environment
Created a more inclusive environment with a lasting impact, either within their institution or externally. Examples include:
Engaging with underserved populations through outreach, advocacy, and education.
Improving recruitment efforts, resulting in a more diverse workforce, internship program, or volunteer base.
Updating finding aids with appropriate translations for the communities that created the records.
Increasing Accessibility
Utilized technology or innovative methods to increase accessibility for people with disabilities or other underserved groups. Examples include:
Enhancing information collection and access systems by evaluating them through a social justice lens.
Using collections to raise awareness of past and present social justice issues.
Advancing Research and Awareness
Enabled new research about diversity and equity, or leveraged collections to highlight social justice issues. Examples include:
Providing exemplary social justice advocacy or activism.
Making creative use of the profession to further diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Dismantling Oppression
Pioneered efforts to dismantle systems of oppression within archives and records management. Examples include:
Finding innovative ways to address and dismantle oppressive structures related to archives and records management.
Past Award Recipients
2026
No Recipient
2025
Jennifer Kellogg, City Records Manager, City of Rochester, MN
2024
No Recipient
2023
No Recipient
2022
Anne Frantilla, Archivist, City of Seattle, WA
2021
Office of Archives and Records Management, Poarch Band of Creek Indians
Emerging Leader Award
Award Description
The Emerging Leader Award recognizes and encourages early-career government archivists or records managers who have demonstrated significant promise of leadership, completed archival/records management work of merit, and performed commendable service to the archives/records management profession.
Selection Criteria
This award is open to all NAGARA members who have between two and ten years of professional archives/records management experience within the government sector. In selecting the successful nominee, consideration will be given to the following criteria:
Contributions to the Profession
Substantive Impact:
Made significant contributions to an area (or areas) of the archives/records management profession beyond the nominee's local institution.
Future Potential:
The contributions hold promise for future impact and advancements in the profession.
Leadership Qualities
Exemplary Leadership:
Demonstrated leadership through collaborative work or exemplary service to local, state, and/or national archives/records management programs.
Promotion of Inclusiveness
Inclusiveness Initiatives:
Actively promoted inclusiveness in professional activities and community partnerships.
Outreach and Advocacy
Engagement Efforts:
Engaged in outreach and advocacy efforts on behalf of the nominee's institution and the broader archives/records management profession.
Past Award Recipients
2026
Alexandra Cardaropoli, Records Analyst, City of Carrollton, TX
2025
Sophia McGuire, Deputy Clerk of Council, City of Gahanna, OH
2024
Heidi Steed, Local Government Records Specialist, Utah Division of Archives and Records Service
Lucretia Frame, Records Manager, Muskingum County Records Center
2023
Mikaela Meza, Supply Chain Operations, Records Center & Historic Archives, Chicago Transit Authority
2022
Mackenzie Stone, Government Records Manager, Idaho State Archives
2021
Catheryne N. Popovitch, Archival Program Administrator, Illinois State Archives
Outstanding Contribution Award
Award Description
The Outstanding Contribution Award recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to their organization or the archives/records management profession with at least ten years of service. This award honors those whose work has had a substantial and positive impact on their institution or the profession as a whole.
Selection Criteria
This award is open to all current and former NAGARA members. In selecting the successful nominee, consideration will be given to the following criteria:
Significant Organizational Impact
Substantial Contributions:
Made significant contributions that have positively affected their organization's archives/records management practices.
Improved Practices:
Introduced innovative practices or improvements that have enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of their organization's operations.
Professional Advancement
Advancement of the Profession:
Contributed to the advancement of the archives/records management profession through research, publication, or other professional activities.
Thought Leadership:
Demonstrated thought leadership and shared knowledge that has influenced the broader professional community.
Innovation and Excellence
Innovative Approaches:
Developed and implemented innovative approaches that have set new standards of excellence within their organization or the profession.
Sustained Excellence:
Consistently demonstrated a high level of excellence in their work, leading to notable achievements and recognition.
Community Engagement and Advocacy
Outreach Efforts:
Engaged in outreach and advocacy efforts that have raised awareness and supported the mission of archives/records management.
Positive Impact:
Created a positive impact on the community through their professional and volunteer activities.
Past Award Recipients
2026
Renée Wilson, Records and Information Management (RIM) Consultant, Utah Division of Archives and Records Service (DARS)
2025
Kathleen Williams, Chief of Archives, Retired, National Gallery of Art
Program Excellence Award
Award Description
The NAGARA Program Excellence Award recognizes outstanding, innovative, and successful government archives and records management programs or initiatives. This award honors a collaborative team or government program that has developed and implemented a creative product or initiative enhancing government records management and preservation goals.
Selection Criteria
This award is open to all NAGARA members. The product, project, or program must be administered under the authority of a NAGARA member (individual or government program) or demonstrate that a NAGARA member (individual or government program) played a significant role in its development and implementation.
In selecting award recipients, consideration will be given to innovative and/or successful programs or activities that have positively benefited the institution, the community it serves, and/or the profession. Criteria include:
Collaboration
High Level of Collaboration:
Has the program shown significant collaboration within the institution or with external agencies/organizations?
Boundary-Crossing Creativity:
Has the program creatively sought collaborations that strengthen records management or archival functions?
Replicability
Potential for Replication:
Can other institutions replicate the program?
Accessible Resources and Tools:
Does the program use resources and tools accessible to various institutions and applicable to common situations?
Innovation and Creativity
Degree of Innovation:
Does the program demonstrate significant innovation and creativity beyond common practices in similar government archives and records management programs?
Creative Resource Utilization:
Does the program use existing resources in new ways or develop new technologies or methods?
Examples of Innovation:
Innovation could include developing new services, recruiting new customers, generating new revenue, improving service administration or cost-effectiveness, increasing understanding and appreciation of government recordkeeping issues, or creatively implementing new legal requirements.
Impact
High Impact and Leadership:
What is the program's impact on the institution or community? How does it enhance the goals of archives and record management?
Beneficiaries and Measurable Outcomes:
Who benefited from the program? Has it led to measurable efficiencies or cost savings? Has it significantly improved service delivery or operations?
Overcoming Barriers:
Did the program overcome barriers to success? Can it be replicated in other government programs?
Past Award Recipients
2026
FRASER (Federal Reserve Archival System for Economic Research), a program of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2025
Parkland TX RIM Program Team
2024
City of Georgetown (TX) Records Program
Utah State Archives and Records Service Local Government Team
2023
University of Virginia Records & Information Management Office
2022
Sparks NV City Clerk's Office
2021
Saint Louis Zoo/Registrar Department
2020
Vermont Agency of Human Services Records and Information Management Steering Committee
2019
Michigan Records Management Services
2018
Georgetown TX Utilities - Systems Records Management Project
2017
Snake River Basin Adjudication & Idaho State Archive Government Records Archivists
2016
Greene County Records Center & Archives
2015
No Recipient
2014
No Recipient
2013
The NSA/CSS Records Management Policy Office
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2026 NAGARA Annual Conference
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