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LAWTE Awards

LAWTE offers several training awards In an effort to bring more recognition to those who excel in educating and training in the field of laboratory animal science.  Please review the awards and criteria below and nominate anyone who you think is deserving of an award.  LAWTE will announce the winners of each award at the 2025 LAWTE Biannual Conference.  
Click the button below to download the nomination form.

LAWTE Awards Nominations

INSTRUCTIONS:

            To be eligible for an award, the application must be complete and submitted by May 1, 2027.  Unless noted in the award criteria, LAWTE membership is not a requirement for receiving an award.  Any member of the laboratory animal community may recommend or support a worthy candidate.  Recipients will be recognized at the LAWTE 2027 meeting.


Complete applications should address the award criteria and include:

  • Signed letter of recommendation

  • At least one signed letter of support

  • For individual awards, the nominee’s resume or CV

FOUNDER’S AWARD (Individual) – must be a current LAWTE member

 

Purpose:

To recognize an outstanding educator/trainer in the laboratory animal field. An honorarium of $250, plaque and a lifetime membership to LAWTE will be awarded to the recipient.


Criteria

  • LAWTE member for more than 2 years

  • Active LAWTE participant (officer, committee member or presenter)

  • Engages in training programs or regulatory compliance in the laboratory animal science industry

  • Assists with writing guidelines and policies to support an animal care program(s)

  • Assists in efforts to secure AAALAC International accreditation

  • Demonstrates a commitment to continuing education (certifications, maintaining a professional license, etc.)

  • Participation in AALAS and AALAS Branch activities (presenter, committee member or officer)

  • Additional consideration is given for nominees who have:

    • AALAS certification at the LATG or CMAR level, or CPIA

    • Used animal models or other training methods to reduce the number of animals used

    • Incorporated web-based models

    • Emphasized the 3Rs in their training methods

    • A history of public outreach

 

IMPACT AWARD (Individual)

 

Purpose:

To recognize an outstanding educator/trainer in the laboratory animal field that has a passion for teaching and encourages students to learn.  An honorarium of $150, plaque and a 1-year membership to LAWTE will be awarded to the recipient.


Criteria

  • Motivates students towards excellence in their laboratory animal science work

  • Inspires others around them to grow and develop their capabilities 

  • Develops curriculum and/or course materials for the purpose of engaging students in the learning process

  • Encourages a multi-disciplinary teaching approach with the aim to develop participants into motivated learners

  • Engages in training programs or regulatory compliance in the laboratory animal science community

  • Demonstrates a commitment to continuing education (certifications, maintaining a professional license, etc.)

  • Additional consideration is given for nominees who have:

    • AALAS certification at any level

    • AALAS and branch participation (presenter, committee member or officer)

    • Emphasized the 3Rs in their training methods

 

The ROOKIE AWARD (Individual)

 

Purpose:

To recognize an outstanding educator/trainer in the laboratory animal field that is relatively new to the training environment.  An honorarium of $150, plaque and a 1-year membership to LAWTE will be awarded to the recipient.


Criteria

  • Less than 2 years in the training environment

  • Engages in training programs or regulatory compliance in the laboratory animal industry

  • Demonstrates a commitment to continuing education (certifications, maintaining a professional license, etc.)

  • Consideration is given for nominees who have:

    • AALAS certification at any level

    • AALAS and branch participation (presenter, committee member or officer)

    • Emphasized the 3Rs in their training methods

 

 

The TOP Awards (Individual or Group)

  • Performance

  • Development

  • Program

 

Purpose:

A “Top” award recognizes an individual, group, or organization that has demonstrated outstanding achievement and excellence in the laboratory animal training arena since the last LAWTE meeting.  A plaque will be awarded to the recipients.

 

Top Award – Performance

Criteria

  • Has given a public presentation, workshop, or lecture in the laboratory animal arena since the last LAWTE meeting

  • Nominee has demonstrated themselves to be an impactful, authoritative, and engaging speaker

 

Top Award – Development

Criteria – any of the following

  • Has developed a powerful and influential training curriculum in the laboratory animal field

  • Has developed a powerful and influential online learning program or resource in the laboratory animal field

  • Has developed a powerful and influential training webinar in the laboratory animal field

  • Has developed a powerful and influential training tool in the laboratory animal field

 

Top Award – Program

Criteria

  • Training program must be supported by an AAALAC International-accredited animal facility

  • Facility management must demonstrate a commitment to training

  • The training program ensures proficiency by multiple avenues of assessment

  • The training program has emphasized the 3Rs in their training methods

  • Facility management has demonstrated a commitment to continuing education by encouraging AALAS certification and participation in outside training opportunities

Award Type
Founder's Award
Impact Award
Rookie Award
Top Award- Performance
Top Award- Development
Top Award- Program
Multi-line address

NOTE: Completion of this section is not required if nominating a group or institution for a Top Award.

Upload signed letter of recommendation, letter of support, & nominee's resume/CV

FOUNDER’S AWARD (Individual) – must be a current LAWTE member

Purpose:

To recognize an outstanding educator/trainer in the laboratory animal field. An honorarium of $250, a plaque, and a lifetime membership to LAWTE will be awarded to the recipient.

Criteria:

1. LAWTE member for more than 2 years

2. Active LAWTE participant (officer, committee member, or presenter)

3. Engages in training programs or regulatory compliance in the laboratory animal science industry

4. Assists with writing guidelines and policies to support an animal care program(s)

5. Assists in efforts to secure AAALAC International accreditation

6. Demonstrates a commitment to continuing education (certifications, maintaining a professional license, etc.)

7. Participation in AALAS and AALAS Branch activities (presenter, committee member, or officer)

8. Additional consideration is given to nominees who have:

•AALAS certification at the LATG or CMAR level, or CPIA

•Used animal models or other training methods to reduce the number of animals used

•Incorporated web-based models

•Emphasized the 3Rs in their training methods

•A history of public outreach

IMPACT AWARD (Individual)

Purpose:

To recognize an outstanding educator/trainer in the laboratory animal field who has a passion for teaching and encourages students to learn. An honorarium of $150, a plaque, and a 1-year membership to LAWTE will be awarded to the recipient.

Criteria:

1. Motivates students towards excellence in their laboratory animal science work

2. Inspires others around them to grow and develop their capabilities

3. Develop curriculum and/or course materials to engage students in the learning process

4. Encourages a multi-disciplinary teaching approach to develop participants into motivated learners

5. Engages in training programs or regulatory compliance in the laboratory animal science community

6. Demonstrates a commitment to continuing education (certifications, maintaining a professional license, etc.)

7. Consideration is given to nominees who have:

•AALAS certification at any level

•AALAS and branch participation (presenter, committee member or officer)

•Emphasized the 3Rs in their training methods

The ROOKIE AWARD (Individual)

Purpose:

To recognize an outstanding educator/trainer in the laboratory animal field who is relatively new to the training environment. An honorarium of $150, a plaque, and a 1-year membership to LAWTE will be awarded to the recipient.

Criteria:

1. Less than 2 years in the training environment

2. Engages in training programs or regulatory compliance in the laboratory animal industry

3. Demonstrates a commitment to continuing education (certifications, maintaining a professional license, etc.)

4. Consideration is given for nominees who have:

•AALAS certification at any level

•AALAS and branch participation (presenter, committee member or officer)

•Emphasized the 3Rs in their training methods

Citrus

The TOP Awards (Individual or Group)

1. Performance

2. Development

3. Program

Purpose:

A “Top” award recognizes an individual, group, or organization that has demonstrated outstanding achievement and excellence in the laboratory animal training arena since the last LAWTE meeting. A plaque will be awarded to the recipients.

 

Top Award – Performance

Criteria:

1. Has given a public presentation, workshop, or lecture in the laboratory animal arena since the last LAWTE meeting

2. Nominee has demonstrated themselves to be an impactful, authoritative, and engaging speaker

Top Award – Development

Criteria – any of the following:

1. Has developed a powerful and influential training curriculum in the laboratory animal field

2. Has developed a powerful and influential online learning program or resource in the laboratory animal field

3. Has developed a powerful and influential training webinar in the laboratory animal field

4. Has developed a powerful and influential training tool in the laboratory animal field

Top Award – Program

Criteria:

1. Training program must be supported by an AAALAC International-accredited animal facility

2. Facility management must demonstrate a commitment to training

3. The training program ensures proficiency by multiple avenues of assessment

4. The training program has emphasized the 3Rs in their training methods

5. Facility management has demonstrated a commitment to continuing education by encouraging AALAS certification and participation in outside training opportunities

LAWTE Biennial Conference Poster Awards are Awarded at each Conference

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