The SBE membership includes many who serve or achieve at the highest level broadcast engineering. The SBE National Awards, presented each fall, recognize these individuals and chapters. Nominations for the SBE National Awards are being accepted through the June 15, 2012 deadline.

Take a few minutes to consider a chapter member who performs their craft at the highest level and is respected by their peers. Individual nomination forms are available on the SBE website to nominate a deserving society member.

Members may nominate their own chapter or other chapters for efforts relating to chapter newsletters, websites, conventions, overall interaction and frequency coordination. 2012 is the first year for the new award for best chapter social media site. Discuss with other local members and consider nominating your chapter for one of the chapter awards. Chapter nomination forms are available on the society’s website.

The two highest individual awards that the SBE has presented since 1991, the SBE Engineer of the Year and SBE Educator of the Year, will be awarded with new names starting in 2012. Moving forward, the awards will be known as the Robert W. Flanders SBE Engineer of the Year Award and the James C. Wulliman SBE Educator of the Year Award. Both Flanders and Wulliman are past presidents of the SBE and are credited with making significant contributions to the direction and programs of the society in its early years, which continue to have an impact today.

The SBE also recognizes lifelong accomplishments with the John H. Battison Award for Lifetime Achievement. Named for the founder of the SBE, this award recognizes members for outstanding achievements accomplished over 40 years or more. Nominations for this award are accepted at any time throughout the year. When a member is selected to receive the award, a surprise presentation is made during the SBE Membership Meeting held during the spring NAB Show

Recognizing the professional accomplishments of members is part of the mission of the SBE. Efforts of members to nominate an individual or chapter helps the society achieve its mission. The 2012 awards will be presented on October 24 at the SBE National Meeting in Denver, Colo., held in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain A/V Expo and the Broadcast Engineer’s Boot Camp, presented by SBE Chapter 48 and the Rocky Mountain Section of SMPTE.