NLPES Outstanding Achievement Award

The recipient of the award will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Considerable active participation in NLPES (50%). Individual winners of this award typically have made several of the following contributions to the society: served in officer positions on the NLPES Executive Committee, served as a presenter or moderator at NLPES Professional Development Seminars, participated in NLPES-sponsored webinars, participated in NLPES-sponsored trainings at the NCSL Legislative Summit, submitted articles for the NLPES newsletter, and supported their colleagues' participation in the activities and governance of NLPES. 
• Other contributions that have advanced the fields of program evaluation or performance auditing (30%) (e.g., the individual served on the NCSL Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee, NCSL Standing Committees or NCSL Executive Committee; enhanced the professionalism of program evaluation or performance auditing; or affiliated with other professional associations involved in program evaluation or performance auditing). 
• Long-time involvement in the fields of legislative program evaluation or performance auditing while maintaining high ethical and professional standards (20%). 

Please note: While many of the Outstanding Achievement Award recipients are retired NLPES members, retirement is not one of the criteria for the award.

Nominations for the Outstanding Achievement Award must be made by emailing a letter to the NLPES Chair describing how the nominee meets the selection criteria. 

Applicants are responsible for submitting all nomination documentation and materials by the May 3, 2024  submission deadline. Judges will not follow up to obtain additional materials nor will additional materials be considered after the submission deadline. Please ensure that your submission packet meets all criteria for the award. 

A special five-person selection committee oversees the process for this award. The selection committee consists of the NLPES chair, NLPES vice chair and three other individuals selected by the NLPES chair who have a significant history of both active participation in NLPES and experience in legislative program evaluation or performance auditing. The selection committee will make its decision based on consensus and may grant a maximum of one award each year.

The members of the 2024 Outstanding Achievement Award Selection Committee are: 

• Darin Underwood (NLPES Executive Committee Chair), Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor General 
• Jennifer Sebren (NLPES Executive Committee Vice Chair), Mississippi Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review 
• The remaining 3 members have not yet been identified. 

If you have questions about the Outstanding Achievement Award, or if you wish to nominate someone to receive the award, contact the NLPES Chair: 

Darin Underwood (NLPES Executive Committee Chair) 
(801) 326-1741