Call for Entries

2009 National Planning Excellence, Leadership and Achievement Awards

Deadline for most awards: September 10, 2008

Each year, the American Planning Association honors outstanding efforts in planning and planning leadership, including cutting-edge achievements and planning under difficult or adverse circumstances. We invite you to participate in the celebration of the best in plans and planning by nominating projects and people you think deserving of such recognition.

Nominations for 2009 National Planning Awards will be accepted here starting July 1, 2008.

September 10, 2008, at 12 midnight (local time) is the deadline for submitting online nominations for National Planning Excellence, National Planning Leadership, and National Planning Achievement awards; the International Planning Leadership Award; APA President's Award; AICP President's Award; AICP National Planning Pioneer Award; and APA Distinguished Service and Contribution Awards.

If you have questions about any of the National Planning Excellence, Leadership, and Achievement Awards, contact APA Public Affairs Coordinator Denny Johnson at djohnson@planning.org or 202-349-1006.

For additional information about APA Journalism, AICP Student Project Awards, and AICP Outstanding Student Awards, see descriptions below.

Award Categories and Submission Information

Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan

National Planning Excellence Awards

National Planning Excellence Award for Best Practice
National Planning Excellence Award for a Grassroots Initiative
National Planning Excellence Award for Implementation
The Public Outreach Award
National Excellence Award for Innovation in Regional Planning
National Planning Landmark Award

National Planning Leadership Awards

The AICP National Planning Leadership Award for a Professional Planner
The National Planning Leadership Award for a Planning Advocate
The National Planning Leadership Award for a Student Planner
APA President's Award for Meritorious Service
AICP President's Award for Exceptional Practice

The International Planning Leadership Award

The HUD Secretary's Opportunity and Empowerment Award

National Planning Achievement Awards

National Planning Achievement Award for a Hard-Won Victory
Paul Davidoff National Award for Social Change and Diversity
Diana Donald National Award for Issues of Importance to Women and Families

Other APA and AICP Awards

The Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Contribution Award
AICP National Planning Pioneer Award
AICP Student Project Award
AICP Outstanding Student Award
APA Journalism Awards

Additional Eligibility Criteria

General Submission Information

Judging and Awards Ceremony

Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan

For a comprehensive or general plan that advances the science and art of planning. The award honors America's most famous planner, Daniel Burnham, for his contributions to the planning profession and to a greater awareness of the benefits of good planning for all communities. The award is given for group achievement and may be made to a planning agency, planning team or firm, community group, or local authority. There are no restrictions on the size of jurisdiction. 

Eligibility
Open to APA members and non-members.

Criteria

Originality and innovation. Document how your entry presents a visionary approach or innovative concept in addressing the needs of the community or jurisdiction covered by the plan. What innovative practices or measures were used to develop the plan? For example, is there originality in the way new data were collected and incorporated into the plan? Explain how the use of the planning process in this context broadened accepted planning principles within the context of the local situation.

Transferability. Illustrate how the nominated comprehensive plan has potential application for others and how use of your entry's components and methodology would further the cause of good planning.

Quality. What makes this plan worthy of emulation by others? How does the plan incorporate principles of smart growth and sustainability? Competitive entries will represent excellence of thought, analysis, writing, and graphics throughout the plan, regardless of budgetary limitations. Indicate how available resources were used in a thoughtful and ethical process. 

Content and plan elements. How complete is the plan? What different elements does the plan contain and in what ways does the plan support or connect to other plans or planning mandates, such as hazard mitigation planning; protection of biodiversity, including threatened or endangered species; and sustainable use of natural resources for the area? Specify how planning principles have been observed, especially in consideration of your entry's effects on other public objectives.

Public participation. Explain how various public interests were involved and the extent of that involvement. Competitive entries need to demonstrate a strong effort to solicit input from those who historically have been left out of the planning process. Show how the nominated plan obtained public and private support.

Role of planners.  Clarify the role, significance, and participation of  planners; for instance, how in-house staff and consultants worked together. Demonstrate the connection between the success of this effort and increased awareness in the community of planners and the planning process.

Implementation strategy. How much local political support is there for the plan and its implementation? Is there a separate implementation strategy and, if so, what does it include? What preliminary steps have been taken to help build momentum and public support for following and implementing the plan?

Effectiveness and results. What impact has the planning process or plan or both had on how the community responds to and manages change? Be specific about the plan's impact. For example, what new policies or directions have resulted because of the plan or the planning process used for the plan? What is the level of commitment by elected officials, business and community leaders, citizen groups, and others to follow and implement the plan?

The following six awards recognize group achievement by a planning agency, planning team or firm, community group, or local authority in helping civic leaders and citizens play a meaningful role in creating communities that enrich people's lives. There are no restrictions on the size of jurisdiction.

Criteria (for Best Practice, Grassroots Initiative, and Implementation categories)

Each nomination must address all of the following areas completely in addition to the specific requirements (if any) listed for each category:

Originality and innovation. Document how your entry presents a visionary approach or innovative concept to address needs. Explain how the use of the planning process in this context broadened accepted planning principles within the context of the situation.

Transferability. Illustrate how the entry has potential application for others and how application of your entry's components and methodology would further the cause of good planning.

Quality. Winning entries will represent excellence of thought, analysis, writing, and graphics throughout the nomination, regardless of budgetary limitations. Indicate how available resources were used.

Comprehensiveness. Specify how planning principles have been observed, especially in consideration of your entry's effects on other public objectives. Identify to what extent your entry includes elements important to the local community and affecting not only the built environment, but also the community's natural resources, conservation areas, and wildlife species, and planning elements addressing economic or social arenas or both.

Public participation. Explain the level of public participation in this effort. The winning entries demonstrate a strong effort to solicit input from those who historically have been left out of the planning process. Show how the entries obtained public and private support.

Role of planners. Clarify the role, significance, and participation of the planner; for instance, how in-house staff and consultants worked together. Demonstrate the connection between the success of this effort and increased awareness of planners and the planning process.

Effectiveness and results. State how your entry addressed the need or problem that prompted its initiation. Be explicit about how the results have made a difference in the lives of the people affected. Convey the level of effectiveness your entry can have over time.

National Planning Excellence Award for Best Practices

For a specific planning tool, practice, program, project, or process that is a significant advancement to specific elements of planning. This category emphasizes results and demonstrates how innovative and state-of-the-art planning methods and practices helped to implement a plan. Entries may include such things as regulations and codes, tax policies or initiatives, growth management or design guidelines, transferable development rights programs, land acquisition efforts, public/private partnerships, applications of technology, handbooks, or efforts that foster greater participation in community planning.

Eligibility
Open to APA members and non-members.

National Planning Excellence Award for a Grassroots Initiative

For an initiative that illustrates how a community utilized the planning process to address a need that extends beyond the traditional scope of planning. Emphasis is placed on the success of planning in new or different settings. Winning projects will expand public understanding of the planning process. This could include such efforts as community policing or drug prevention, neighborhood outreach initiatives, programs designed for special populations, public art or cultural efforts, community festivals, environmental or conservation initiatives, summer recreational initiatives for children, or focused tourism ventures.

Eligibility
Open to APA members and non-members.

Additonal Criteria, Grassroots Initiative category

Education. Establish that your entry has encouraged community leaders to revise their opinions about the varied uses and broad applications of the planning process. State the influence your entry has had on public awareness beyond those immediately affected.

Collaboration. Describe the level of collaboration between leadership and competing interests. Explain how those affected were brought into the planning process for this initiative.

National Planning Excellence Award for Implementation

For an effort that demonstrates a significant achievement for an area, either a single community or a region, in accomplishing positive changes as a result of planning. This category emphasizes long-term, measurable results to demonstrate that sustained implementation makes a difference. Nominated efforts should have been in continuous effect for a minimum of five years. Nominations can include, but are not limited to, plans for smart growth, signage, farmland preservation, urban design, wetland mitigation, resource conservation, capital improvements, citizen participation, neighborhood improvement, transportation management, and sustained economic development.

Eligibility
Open to APA members and non-members.

Additional Criteria, Implementation category

Sustained improvement. Indicate the level of consistency of this implementation effort since its start. Detail any changes, derailments, or improvements throughout the implementation phase.

Funding. Identify funding challenges or support for this effort. Report any political changes that might affect, for better or worse, the effort's long-term funding.

Community acceptance and support. Describe how the longevity of this effort has increased the community's appetite for planning and the pursuit of similar initiatives. Clarify the extent that this effort's sustained success has been achieved beyond its general audience.

Environmental planning and impacts. How has the nominated effort identified, evaluated, and addressed potential beneficial and adverse consequences of implementing a project, development, or program on the surrounding environment including its flora and fauna? In situations where adverse environmental impacts were unavoidable, what mitigation measures were undertaken and how effective have they been?

The Public Outreach Award

For an individual, project, or program that uses information and education about the value of planning and how planning improves a community's quality of life to create greater awareness among citizens or specific segments of the public. This may include, but is not limited to, broad community efforts showing how planning can make a difference, curricula designed to teach children about planning, neighborhood empowerment programs, initiatives designed to include new individuals and groups in the planning process, use of technology to expand public participation in planning, outreach programs to the media, or comprehensive campaigns to renew or initiate a plan.

Eligibility
Open to APA members and non-members.

Criteria

Originality. Document how the program uses new ideas or combines tools to address a demonstrated need for planning information or education within the community.

Quality. Entries need to demonstrate excellence of thought, analysis, writing, and graphics throughout the nomination, regardless of budgetary limitations. Indicate how available resources were used in a thoughtful and ethical process.

Education. Show how the program has increased the understanding of planning principles and the planning process. Explain how the results have been measured and internalized.

Transferability. Illustrate how the entry has potential application for others. Describe how widespread application would be in the interest of the planning profession.

Effectiveness and results. Specify the extent that the program, if directed to adults or designed as a general education effort, has been effective in implementing plans and ideas. Show how the program has furthered the cause of sound planning. Provide measurable results if possible or appropriate (for example, pre- and post-outreach effort poll results).

National Excellence Award for Innovation in Regional Planning

Many of today's most pressing issues cannot be addressed within local jurisdictions alone. Environmental conservation, disaster mitigation, economic strategies, transportation and demographic shifts all require regional thinking and regional solutions. Planners attention is being focused on metropolitan regions, "mega-regions," and other spatial delineations that span beyond state and even national boundaries.

APA seeks to identify the leading regional planning practices to promote and strengthen support for regional planning at all levels. This award category is part of APA's larger effort to call attention to the need for regional planning and to promote national and state policies providing legal and financial incentives for community cooperation.

Planning for regions involves a broad spectrum of issues affecting how places are planned and 0designed as well as management and communications systems that link our complex public and private institutions. Among the principal areas of regional concern are urban agricultural, air and water quality, climate change, energy use and efficiency, green infrastructure, resource conservation, biodiversity protection, transportation choices and impacts, compact development, and sustainability.

For 2009, the American Planning Association's national awards program seeks examples of innovative plans, programs, tools, or related efforts that demonstrate advancement in planners' efforts to address the issues of planning at a regional, multi-jurisdictional level.

Eligibility
Open to APA members and non-members.

Criteria

Planning and innovation. Regional plans and planning should both address a wide range of issues and also meet specific needs. What critical regional planning elements are addressed by the nominated effort in terms of lessening and mitigating adverse impacts from development and everyday living? How are energy conservation measures and incentives to use energy-efficient or energy-saving technologies incorporated into the plan? Is the practice of urban agriculture encouraged and integrated into a community's economic and ecological systems? What provisions are included to ensure restoration and protection of threatened and endangered species, their habitat, and other critical natural resources, including air and water? What other ways does the plan or planning effort seek to create a community that is truly sustainable and compatible with the natural resources and environmental systems upon which its existence depends? How are density, and the encouragement and site selection for density, promoted?

Plan compatibility. How is regional planning integrated with corresponding comprehensive or master plans, district or special-use plans, recreational plans, economic development plans, capital improvement programs, zoning ordinances, or other related initiatives? In what ways does the regional planning effort support the broader needs of the community and surrounding area or address community-wide objectives?

Citizen participation. What was done to ensure the widest variety of resident and stakeholder participation in the plan and planning process? What steps were taken to inform affected residents and ensure collaboration with decision-makers, service providers, and business leaders during the planning process? How is the plan continuing to further discussion and implementation? What innovative ways are people able to use the plan to inform individual decisions and to become educated on the regional aspects that affect them?

Collaboration and partnerships. What strategic partnerships or alliances were developed to help meet the goals and objectives of the nominated effort? What formal and informal steps were taken to engage community leaders and local officials so as to gain broad public support for the plan and its implementation, and effectively address home-rule, inter-jurisdictional, or related governing and political issues?

Social and economic concerns. How does the nominated effort address not only a community's physical realm, but also its social and economic concerns and issues? For example, linking the food system in a region to local neighborhood markets and institutions, or addressing the issues of environmental justice. The nomination should demonstrate ways to offer more housing choices, job creation and transportation options across the spectrum of communities in the region.

National Planning Landmark Award

The National Planning Landmark Award is for a planning project, initiative, or endeavor that is historically significant and that may be used or accessed by the public.

Eligibility
Open to APA members and non-members.

Criteria

Historical significance. What is the nomination's historical significance in terms of at least one of the following: being a pioneering work or a documented first; being historically significant, unique, and outstanding; having initiated a new direction in planning that had a lasting effect or other impact; or having impact on American planning, cities, or regions during a broad range of time, space, or both time and space? Nominated landmarks must date back at least 25 years from the September 10, 2008, nomination deadline (September 10, 1983, or before).

National significance. What effect or impact did the nominated landmark have on planning in the United States as a whole? What is the nominated landmark's national importance and influence in helping create communities or other places of lasting value throughout the country?

Persons involved: Who were the significant planners or others who were involved and responsible for the accomplishments of the nominated landmark?

National Planning Leadership Awards

The following awards are given to individuals for outstanding, significant, and sustained contributions to, and in support of, planning and the planning profession.

The AICP National Planning Leadership Award for a Professional Planner

Recognizes a sustained contribution to the profession through distinguished practice, teaching, or writing.

Eligibility
Nominated individuals may not enter themselves and must be employed within the practice of planning, whether in the public, for-profit, or nonprofit sector. AICP membership is required.

Criteria

Support of planning and planners. Illustrate how the nominee's work has increased the understanding of the planning process. Indicate how the nominee has shown a clear understanding of, and support for, the role of planners in public life.

Effectiveness and results. Describe the extent that the nominee has been effective in formulating and implementing plans and ideas in support of good planning. Identify the level of influence and effectiveness achieved by the nominee within different segments of the community.

The National Planning Leadership Award for a Planning Advocate

Recognizes an individual, appointed official, or an elected official who has advanced or promoted the cause of planning in the public arena. Those nominated may include engaged citizens demonstrating outstanding leadership in a community, region, or state; members of planning commissions, boards of zoning appeals, economic development boards, environmental or historic preservation councils, or other appointed officials; or elected officials, whether holding office at the local, regional, or state level. Nominations may also include the more nontraditional roles of citizen activists or neighborhood leaders.

Eligibility
Candidates cannot be self-nominated and cannot earn their living as planners. APA membership is not required.

Criteria

Support of planning and planners. Illustrate how the nominee's work has increased the understanding of the planning process. Indicate how the nominee has shown a clear understanding of, and support for, the role of planners in public life.

Effectiveness and results. Describe the extent that the nominee has been effective in formulating and implementing plans and ideas in support of good planning. Identify the level of influence and effectiveness achieved by the nominee within different segments of the community.

The National Planning Leadership Award for a Student Planner (graduate and undergraduate levels)

Recognizes up to two students in the final year of a Planning Accreditation Board–approved planning program, one at the undergraduate level and one at the graduate level, for outstanding achievement during the nominee's academic career in planning.

Eligibility
One nomination will be accepted from each accredited planning program at the undergraduate and graduate levels. APA membership is required.

Criteria

Support of planning. Illustrate how the nominee's academic achievement has demonstrated comprehension of planning principles and the planning process. Show how the nominee's participation and leadership within the planning program demonstrated a sincere enthusiasm for excellence in planning.

Effectiveness, results, and potential. Describe the contribution the nominee has made to the planning profession. Explain how the nominee demonstrates potential for success as a professional planner.

APA President's Award for Meritorious Service

Given once during an APA President's term for remarkable achievement by a member of the American Planning Association in service to the organization. Nominations for this award are being accepted for the April 2008 awards ceremony.

Eligibility
Persons nominated must be members of APA. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Criterion

Remarkable achievements. Specify how the nominee's contributions to APA stand out and merit recognition by the president of APA. Please be specific when describing the nominee's contributions.

AICP President's Award for Exceptional Practice

This award, given by the AICP President, recognizes exceptional practice by an individual professional planner, a group of planners, or a planning program that has demonstrated a significant contribution to advancing the planning profession.

Eligibility
Individuals nominated for this award must be members of the American Institute of Certified Planners. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Criteria

Exceptional practice. Specify how the nominee's work stands out and demonstrates exceptional practice.

Significant contributions. Detail the nominee's contributions that have helped advance the practice of planning and the planning profession.

The International Planning Leadership Award

Given increasing globalization, planners must often expand their vision to encompass not just domestic but international concerns. Issues can include social equality and livable communities, as well as environmental and ecological issues. Planners today must maintain a global awareness and seek insights beyond traditional country borders. To encourage such innovation and elevate planning issues globally, the American Planning Association has established the International Planning Leadership Award.

Eligibility: Candidates cannot be self-nominated. APA membership is not required.

Criteria

Support of planning and planners. Illustrate how the nominee's work has increased the understanding of the planning process. Indicate how the nominee has shown a clear understanding of, and support for, the role of planning and planners in public life.

Effectiveness and results. Describe the extent that the nominee has been effective in formulating, advocating for, and implementing plans and ideas in support of good planning. Identify the level of influence and effectiveness achieved by the nominee at the national level of their home country, and internationally, if applicable.

The HUD Secretary's Opportunity and Empowerment Award

Given in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

A single award will be made for a plan, program, or project that, as a direct result of the effort, demonstrates improved quality of life for low- and moderate-income community residents. Emphasis is on how creative housing, economic development, and private investments have been used in or with a comprehensive community development plan.

This award emphasizes tangible results and recognizes the planning discipline and its skills as a community strategy. Nominees should show how they have overcome difficult community issues. Examples of eligible submissions include regulatory reform, growth management, transportation, community participation, diverse housing planning, and economic development. The strategy should employ a variety of actions that maximize increased choice and opportunity.

To the maximum extent possible, submissions should involve formal community planning efforts and include physical improvements or interventions (though the latter is not required). The strategy submitted should have been in effect a minimum of three years.

Eligibility
Open to APA members and non-members.

Criteria

Planning. How did the submission relate to existing plans (comprehensive, regional, and neighborhood)? What role did planners play in achieving the results? How was the planning process important to subsequent implementation? Finally, how involved in the plan were specific groups and individuals from private, nonprofit, and public perspectives, particularly those who may have been left out of similar efforts in the past?

Results. To what extent has the submission addressed and documented the need for increased economic employment, education, or housing choice or mobility among low- and moderate-income residents in a cost-effective and quality manner? Include the end date, detailed cost and funding data, and when the results were implemented. Information must be included describing how the nominated effort has exceeded any minimum requirements imposed by the source or sources of grants, loans, or other funding, whether government or private, obtained and used by the program, project, or effort.

Innovation. To what extent does the submission use innovative approaches in planning to address community needs? How is it innovative for the locality and innovative nationally for a given field or program or practice? For projects using HOPE VI funds, describe how the nomination builds on existing HOPE VI requirements.

Transferability. How, and to what extent, does the submission provide an example for others? What indicates that the approach can be applied elsewhere? Describe how the project uniquely addressed and overcame challenges that are common to contemporary projects and today's constraints and challenges.

National Planning Achievement Awards

National Planning Achievement Award for a Hard-Won Victory

For a planning initiative or other planning effort undertaken by a community, neighborhood, citizens group, or jurisdiction in the face of difficult or trying circumstances. This award recognizes the positive effect of hard-won victories by professional planners, citizen planners, or both working under difficult, challenging, or adverse conditions because of natural disasters, local circumstances, financial or organizational constraints, social factors, or other causes.

Eligibility
Open to APA members and non-members.

Criteria

Challenges or barriers. What obstacles, whether physical, natural, political, social, or a combination thereof, were faced and addressed by the nominated effort? What is the extent of these challenges or other adversarial conditions, and what steps were undertaken to meet the difficult circumstances?

Available resources. What resources were available and how were these resources (financial, personnel, consultants, etc.) managed, leveraged, and deployed?

Progress and positive effects. What are the lasting effects the effort has had or is likely to have on planning in the community? Has the effort removed or mitigated the barriers and obstacles? How has or will the effort shape the future in the community or locale? What influence has the nominated effort had on community leaders and their views about the value and effectiveness of planning?

Paul Davidoff National Award for Social Change and Diversity

This award honors a project, group, or individual demonstrating a sustained social commitment to advocacy involving planning for the needs of society's less fortunate members, or for efforts or specific projects by individuals belonging to a minority group or organizations whose membership, staff, or focus is on minority concerns and such individuals or organizations have successfully promoted and helped expand diversity within the planning profession or have promoted and helped expand planning and diversity. The award honors the late APA member for his contributions to the planning field.

Eligibility
Open to APA members and non-members.

Criteria

Advocacy. Describe to what extent the nominee addressed the needs of those that society typically overlooks during the planning process.

Effectiveness. Specify how the nominee's effort has had an impact on the lives of those the nominee is working to help. Indicate how those efforts have touched a wider audience.

Diversity. For nominations addressing diversity issues and concerns, what has the individual, organization, or undertaken effort done to promote diversity within the planning profession or to advance and sustain sound, ethical, and inclusionary planning in communities, regions, states, or the nation?

Diana Donald National Award for Issues of Importance to Women and Families

For a significant contribution to planning issues related to women and the family. This award is named after past APA Director Diana Donald in recognition of her contributions to the organization.

Eligibility
Open to APA members and non-members. Candidates may not nominate themselves.

Criteria

Support of women and the family. Describe how the nominee's efforts addressed the concerns of women through specific actions or contributions to planning initiatives in the community.

Effectiveness. Specify how the nominee's effort has been effective in furthering the cause of women's issues through planning. Indicate how those efforts have touched a wider audience.

Other APA and AICP Awards

The Distinguished Service Award

Recognizing an APA member who has contributed to the development and mission of the American Planning Association in a substantial manner over a sustained period.

Eligibility
Any APA member other than the person nominated may submit a member's name for this award.

The Distinguished Contribution Award

Recognizing an APA member who has contributed to the goals and objectives of the American Planning Association and to its development plan through an extraordinary effort over a short period of time.

Eligibility
Any APA member other than the person nominated may submit a member's name for this award.

Criteria for both Distinguished Service and Contribution Awards

Support of Planning. Specify how the nominee's work increased the understanding of planning principles and the planning process.

Support of APA. Detail how the nominee's participation in, and contribution to, APA furthered the cause of the association.

Effectiveness. Describe the level of effectiveness the nominee has had in formulating and implementing his or her ideas, subsequently furthering the cause of planning and APA.

AICP National Planning Pioneer Award

Deadline for entries: September 10, 2008

The Planning Pioneer Awards are presented to pioneers of the profession who have made personal and direct innovations in American planning that have significantly and positively redirected planning practice, education, or theory with long-term results. Contributions must date back at least 25 years from the September 10, 2008, nomination deadline (September 10, 1983, or before).

Eligibility
Any APA member other than the person nominated may submit a member's name for this award.

Criteria

Historic impact on planning. Describe the nominated person's personal and direct innovations or new models that directly influenced the future of American planning and explain how these developments significantly and positively redirected planning practice, education, theory, or organization. Show and document long-term, historically significant results in terms of planning practice, planning theory, planning literature, citizen participation, or a combination of these subject areas.

National significance. What have been the national impacts or effects of the of the nominated person's planning contributions? Describe, including specific examples or developments.

AICP Student Project Awards

Deadline for nominations: December 9, 2008

These awards recognize outstanding class projects or papers by a student or group of students in Planning Accreditation Board-accredited planning programs that contribute to advances in the field of planning. Awards may be given in up to three categories:

1. the project that best demonstrates the contribution of planning to contemporary issues
2. the project best applying the planning process
3. applied research

Winning entries will be recognized at the 2009 APA/AICP Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony held during the 2009 National Planning Conference April 25-29, 2009, in Minneapolis. Entries may be submitted online through the APA website starting July 1, 2008.  

Deadline for nominations: 12 midnight (local time) Tuesday, December 9, 2008. Click here for more details.

AICP Outstanding Student Awards

Submission window: March 2 – May 5, 2009

The purpose of the award is to recognize outstanding attainment in the study of planning by students graduating from Planning Accreditation Board–accredited planning programs (one at the undergraduate level and one at the graduate level, if applicable) during the academic year of the award. Each respective planning program:

1. determines its own criteria, which may include but is not limited to, academic achievement, leadership, commitment to planning as a career, and community service
2. convenes a jury to make the selection(s)
3. schedules the award presentation(s) at their respective school(s)

Period for submitting online nominations: March 2, 2009, and 12 midnight (local time) May 5, 2009. Click here for more details.

APA Journalism Awards

Deadline for entries: January 15, 2009, for articles published in 2008

APA's annual Journalism Awards honors newspapers "for public service rendered in the advancement of city and regional planning through outstanding journalism." A newspaper in each of three classes may be selected for an award: circulation below 50,000, circulation of 50,000 to 100,000, and circulation above 100,000.

Articles published in 2008 must be received by APA at 122 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60603-6107 by the close of business January 15, 2009. Online entries are not accepted for this award category.

The nomination form will be available here later in the year

Contact Sylvia Lewis at 312-786-6370 or slewis@planning.org for additional information.

Additional Eligibility Criteria

With the noted exception of the National Planning Excellence Award for Implementation, the National Planning Landmark Award, and the AICP National Planning Pioneer Award, any plan, project, program, tool, process, report, or ordinance entered must have been published, implemented or completed within three years of the date of submission.

Nominators must assign each submission to one category. No changes will be allowed after the submission deadline. The jury may move a submission from one category to another.

Recipients of the APA President's Meritorious Service Award, AICP President's Award, or Distinguished Service, Distinguished Contribution, any of the National Planning Leadership, the International Leadership, Paul Davidoff, and Diana Donald awards are ineligible to receive the same award for 10 years after accepting it.

Nominators may not be related by blood or marriage to any individual they wish to nominate for a APA President's Meritorious Service Award, AICP President's Award, or the Distinguished Service, Distinguished Contribution, Public Outreach, any of the National Planning Leadership, the International Planning Leadership, Paul Davidoff, or Diana Donald awards.

Members of the APA Awards Committee, APA staff, APA Board of Directors, and AICP Commission are not eligible to enter, to be nominated, or to receive individual awards. These individuals may not attempt to influence or affect the outcome of the jury process for any nominated project, plan, or individual.

General Submission Information

General Submission Information

Submission deadline for the National Planning Awards is September 10, 2008. Please note that the APA Journalism Awards, the AICP Student Project Awards, and the AICP Outstanding Student Awards have different submission processes and deadlines, which are described above.

• All basic nomination materials for ALL award categories except the APA Journalism Awards must be submitted through the APA website at www.planning.org/awards/2009.htm. Online nomination forms will be available starting July 1, 2008. Basic nomination materials vary according to each respective award category, but for APA's National Planning Excellence, Leadership, and Achievement Award categories items include an application form, one-page summary of the entry, two-page narration of how the entry meets the award criteria, up to five letters of support, digital images, and entry fee, if applicable.  
  
  
• Entries must include a two-page explanation that specifically answers the criteria in the order requested under each category. Use the award criteria stated in this document to reference specific examples that illustrate your points.
  
  
• Nominators for the National Planning Excellence Award for Implementation are advised that this category emphasizes action and results. Supporting documentation should take the form of reviews of the implementation effort, analysis of the results, newspaper clippings, editorials, etc.

• At least one, but no more than five, one-page letter(s) in support of the entry. The letter(s) should offer support for the value of the nominated effort and may not be written by the nominator of the submission, by the nominated individual or by anyone who directly worked on the project. Comments from appropriate APA chapters, divisions, members, and other stakeholders involved with the subject of the nomination are encouraged.

• Nominations for all of the National Planning Award categories (Daniel Burnham, Planning Excellence, Planning Landmark, Planning Leadership, Planning Achievement, Paul Davidoff, Diana Donald, and AICP National Planning Pioneer), as well as the HUD Secretary's Award and the International Planning Leadership Award, must include no more than 10 digital, copyright-free images (.jpg format) with photo captions that provide context and show the award nomination's positive results or intended results. Images should supplement, not restate, what exists in the submission package. For award categories involving an individual person, include at least one recent picture of the individual and five additional copyright-free photos with captions (.jpg format) that are representative or illustrative of the person's most significant professional work or endeavors. Pictures taken of the nominee while on personal leave, vacation, or in non-work-related settings should not be included. Each submitted image should not be more than 600 kilobytes (KB) in size. Please provide a photo caption that is between 15 and 25 words in length for each image. Photo collages and PowerPoint presentations ARE NOT acceptable. Please submit only digital images that are not copyrighted and may be reproduced by APA without a fee, charge, or copyright infringement.

• A fee applies to each award category EXCEPT the HUD Secretary's Opportunity and Empowerment Award, the AICP National Planning Pioneer Award, the AICP Student Project Awards, the AICP Outstanding Student Awards, the APA President's Award for Meritorious Service, the AICP President's Award for Exceptional Practice, The International Planning Leadership Award, and the APA Journalism Awards. These award categories do not have fees.
  
  
• The applicable entry fee for APA members is $60 per nomination; for non-members the fee is $100 per nomination. Fees must be paid by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) online via the APA website. Cash payments are not accepted.
  
  
• The awards committee's procedures prohibit any communication with jurors on behalf of an entry. Such communication is reason for disqualification.

• Entries receiving awards become the property of APA and will not be returned.

Should you have questions about the 2009 award categories or award criteria, contact Denny Johnson at APA's Public Affairs Office at djohnson@planning.org or 202-349-1006.

Judging and Awards Ceremony

Judging for National Planning Awards will take place through a two-part process during the fall of 2008. Jurors are under no obligation to grant an award in any category and may select to move a nomination to a different category. Nominators of submissions will be notified confidentially in December 2008, if not sooner. Official announcements of submissions receiving awards will be made after all nominators have been notified.

Presentations will be made at the National Planning Conference in Minneapolis, April 25-29, 2009. Recipients of APA National Planning Excellence, Leadership, and Achievement Awards, the Daniel Burnham Award, the National Landmark Award, and the HUD Secretary's Award, and the International Planning Leadership Award receive a personalized award sculpture and certificate, and are featured in a Spring 2009 edition of Planning magazine and on APA's website.