NWEA's Award Programs

There are two categories of awards that are presented by the NWEA. The NWEA Awards which were established by NWEA for the recognition of it's membership and the Member Association Awards which originates from the Federation, but the recipents are selected by committees within the Association.

The NWEA Awards Program began in 1955 with the Scott Wilbur and Arthur Sidney Bedell Awards.

The Arthur Sidney Bedell Award

is a Federation award that recognizes extraordinary personal service to a member association. The first Bedell Award was presented in 1955 to William F. Rapp, Jr., a Past President and Charter Member of the Nebraska Association. Mr. Rapp worked for the Nebraska Department of Health.

The William D. Hatfield Award

is a Federation award that is presented to operators of wastewater treatment plants for outstanding performance and professionalism. In 1958, the first such award was given to Loren Brannel, an operator at Central City.

The George W. Burke, Jr. Award

is a Federation award which recognizes municipal and industrial wastewater facilities for outstanding safety programs. The first award was presented in 1983 to the Omaha Works of the Western Electric Company.

1983- Omaha Works of the Western Electric Company Industrial
Waste Treatment Plant
1984- Falls City Wastewater Treatment Plant
1985- City of Seward Wastewater Treatment Plant
1987- Hastings Utilities Pollution Control Center
1988- City of Omaha Missouri River Wastewater Treatment Plant
1990- City of Omaha Missouri River Wastewater Treatment Plant
1991- City of Omaha Sewer Maintenance Division
1994- Norfolk Pollution Control Facility
1997- Lincoln Wastewater System Sanitary Engineering
2000- City of McCook Wastewater Treatment Facility
2003- City of Omaha Missouri River Wastewater Treatment Plant
2006- City of Omaha Missouri River Wastewater Treatment Plant

A Life Membership

is awarded to individuals who have been an Active, PWO or representative of a Corporate or Associate Member of WEF and in one or more Member Associations for a combined total of at least 35 years, and who have reached age 65 at the time of application to transfer to Life Member.

Dewey Andersen
Burton Johnson
Victor Lechtenberg
Art Meyer
Paul Ombruni
W. James Wells

The Quarter Century Operator's Award

is given to Federation members who have been significant, full-time participants in the water pollution control industry for 25 years,10 years of which must have been actively involved in the day-to-day collections, maintenance, operations, laboratory, or management of a wastewater transportation or treatment facility. In addition, the applicant must be a member of the WEF for a minimum of five years. The first award was presented in 1983 to Otto W. Kuck, an operator at Fairbury.

The Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award

is a Federation award which recognizes individuals for outstanding performance, professionalism and contributions to the water quality analysis profession.. The first recipient was Rick Shibata in 1997, a laboratory supervisor for the City of Lincoln.

1996- Rick Shibata
1998- Mary Jo Crowl
1999- Lumir Sukovaty
2001- John Ford
2002- Lori Paulsen
2004- Tim Burns
2007- Tim Lindeen
2010- Marsha Louthan

The Bruce Bates Service Award

was established in honor of Bruce Bates for his dedication and service to the Nebraska Wastewater Operators Division, of which he was a Charter Member, and the Nebraska Water Environment Association.
The award is given in recognition of outstanding service to the Nebraska Wastewater Operators Division. While established in 2001, the award was given to all past NWOD Chairmen for their service and dedication to the organization.

Bruce Bates Award Recipients

Daryl Meiner (1990)
Thomas Singkofer (1991-1992)
John Ford (1993-1994)
Dave Meisinger (1995-1997)
Larry Beavers (1998)
Scott Sprague (1999-2001)
Jim Heyen (2002-2003)
Ralph Badger (2004-2005)
Lynn Garton (2006-2007)
Todd Sukup (2008-2009)

The Scott Wilbur Award

is a NWEA award given for outstanding operation and maintenance of a wastewater treatment facility and is named for an individual who was an operator for the City of Omaha from 1941 until his death in 1954. The first award was given in 1955 in honor of Mr. Wilbur, who was one of the Charter Members of the Association.

2011 Scott Wilbur Award Application

The Safety Award

is a NWEA award given for outstanding safety programs within a wastewater treatment facility. The applicants are required to meet specific criteria and the recipients are selected by committee.

2011 Safety Award Application