About the AISES Ely S. Parker Award
The Ely S. Parker Award is the highest honor bestowed by AISES, given in honor of a man who was the first recognized American Indian scientist/engineer. Parker made many civil engineering contributions and was a Chief of the Seneca and a Union Army General.
The purpose of the award is to recognize those Indian leaders who most clearly embody AISES’ mission and goals through their achievements and contributions to science, technology, engineering, and math. Members of the Board of Directors, officers, staff and corporate sponsors are not eligible.
Eligibility Criteria
The nominee must be an experienced American Indian or Alaska Native professional who has or has made significant contributions in STEM education or the STEM workforce. AISES membership is not required. The nominee will be evaluated on the following criteria:
1. Contribution to and impact on the American Indian/Alaska Native community STEM community;
2. Contribution to and impact on the American Indian/Alaska Native community educational community;
3. Uniqueness and innovativeness of his/her contributions;
4. Scope and level of responsibilities;
5. Ability to overcome obstacles facing minorities in his/her field;
6. Potential as a role model; and
7. Overall quality of the nomination package
Submitting the Nomination Package
E-Mail this signed application form along with a nomination package to:
Debbie Derryberry at
Faxed applications and nomination packages will not be accepted.
Nominations must be received byMidnight (MDT) on July7, 2017.
Selection and Notification
The AISES Board of Directors will make a selection based upon the criteria listed above.
The awardee and nominating individual will be notified in early-August that the candidate has been chosen by AISES to receive the Ely S. Parker award. The awardee will be invited to accept the award at the 2017 National AISES Conference, which will be held September 21-23, 2017, in Denver, CO.
Nominee’s Information:
NameTribal Affiliation
Company or Organization
Job Title
Principal Job Function
Discipline/Field of Work
Last School Graduated
Degree(s)
Graduation Date / Years of Professional Experience
Business / Home
Address
City, State/Province
Country & Postal Code
Phone
Sponsor’s Information:
NameAddress
City / State/Prov. / Country / Postal Code
Phone / E-Mail
I affirm that the statements in this application are correct to the best of my knowledge and I understand that all Selection Committee decisions are final.
Signature: / Date:Nominations Package Checklist:
cover letter;
information supporting the nominee, including, but not limited to: resume/curriculum vitae; detailed description of the qualifications for the award; job description(s); papers by or about the nominee; organization personnel chart; professional affiliations;
material highlighting involvement in the American Indian or Alaskan Native community;
2 letters of recommendation; and
a recent color photograph
E-Mail this signed application form and completed nomination package to:
Debbie Derryberry at
Nominations must be received by Midnight (MDT) on July 7, 2017.
Ely S. Parker Awardees
1983A T (Andy) Anderson, Chemical Engineering (Seneca) - Awarded Posthumously
1984Phil Stevens, Engineering (Oglala Sioux)
1985Mary Ross, Mathematics & Aerospace Engineering (Cherokee)
1986Al Qöyawayma, Mechanical Engineering (Hopi)
1987Phil Lane Sr., Civil Engineering (Yankton Sioux)
1988Tom Dawson, Electrical Engineering (Cherokee)
1988Don Ridley, Aerospace Engineering (Shoshone)
1989Dr. Lois Steele, Medicine (Assiniboine)
1990Dr. George Blue Spruce, Dentist (Pueblo)
1991Not Awarded
1992Fred Begay, Ph.D., Physics (Navajo)
1993Dr. Taylor MacKenzie, Medicine (Navajo)
1994Dwight Gourneau, Electrical Engineering & Physics (Chippewa)
1995Cliff Poodry, Ph.D., Biology (Seneca)
1996Fred Cooper, Ph.D., Civil Engineering (Shoalwater Bay)
1997Jane Mt. Pleasant, Ph.D., Agronomy & Soil Science (Tuscarora)
1998Dick French, Forestry (Yakama) - Awarded Posthumously
1999Robert Megginson, Ph.D., Mathematics (Lakota)
2000Jim May, Ph.D., Engineering/Business/Library Science (Cherokee)
2001Carolyn Elgin, Ed.D., Educator (Choctaw)
2002Dr. Judith Kaur, Medicine (Choctaw/Cherokee)
2003Carole Gardipe, Geology, (Penobscot)
2004Jerry Elliott, Physics, (Osage/Cherokee)
2005George Thomas, Engineering, (Cherokee)
2006Not Awarded
2007 Governor Joseph Garcia (Ohkay Owingeh)
2008 Norbert S. Hill Jr. (Oneida)
2009Sandra Begay-Campbell (Navajo)
2010Dr. Robert Whitman (Navajo)
2011Everett Chavez (Kewa Pueblo)
2012Henrietta Mann (Cheyenne)
2013Bessie Newman Spicer (Navajo)
2014Dr. Jason Younker (Coquille)
2015 Dr. Bret Benally Thompson (White Earth Ojibwe)
2016 Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer (Potawtomi)
AISES Ely S. Parker Award Nomination Application1