Local Section Awards | AIChE

Local Section Awards

Program Planning Grants

Details
Award

In this program, 4 annual grants of $600-$800 each are awarded to sections submitting qualified applications. Program Planning Grants will be awarded in the spring and fall of year.

DeadlineMarch 31, 2024
AdministratorsLocal Sections Committee (LSC)
PresentationThe Local Section Committee will review the applications and distribute the grants within 30 days of the application deadline.
Nomination Instructions
Each section may only receive one grant per programming year (July to June). Sections who receive the grant must submit a summary report of their funded project before they can apply for the grant in the next funding year.

 

The semiannual deadlines for applications are:

  • March 31 
  • September 30

Application Form

Summary Report

Program Planning Grant Ideas

  • Chemical Engineering PE review course - (10 sessions )
  • Pharmaceutical Engineering Workshop - (1-1/2 day session )
  • Fall Lecture Series - (4 meeting series with a common theme )
  • Financial Planning for Chemical Engineers - (multi-session series)

Evaluation Criteria

Below is the general application evaluation criteria that the Local Sections Committee will use to evaluate grant applications.

  • The innovativeness of the proposed program. What makes it innovative for the local section?
  • How does the program fit the needs of the local section?
  • How is the proposed program different from past programs?
  • How the proposed program will increase membership participation. What will draw prospective members to attend this program?
  • Will the program be targeted at a particular audience?
  • How will this program be promoted and advertised?
  • The section's ability to fund such a program on its own.
  • Does the section have a history of successful program years without having received a grant?
  • Is the applying section considered a section in need?
  • Has the applying section ever been awarded a Program Planning Grant?
  • Has the applying section been awarded a Program Planning Grant in the past 12 months?

Program Planning Grants are intended to assist local sections with their membership outreach efforts. The objective is to encourage development of a program involving more than a single event.

Project Connect Grants

Details
Award

In this program, 12-15 annual grants of $150-$600 each are awarded to sections submitting qualified applications.

DeadlineMarch 31, 2024
AdministratorsLocal Sections Committee (LSC)
PresentationThe Project Connect Subcommittee, in conjunction with the Local Section Executive Committee, will review the applications and distribute the grants within 30 days of the deadlines.
Nomination Instructions

Each section may only receive one grant per programming year (July to June). Sections who receive the grant must submit a summary report of their funded project before they can apply for the grant in the next funding year.

The quarterly deadlines for applications are:

  • March 31st
  • June 30th
  • September 30th
  • December 31st

APPLICATION FORM

Summary Report

Project Connect Grant Programming Ideas

Here are some of the innovative and successful local section programs supported by John J. McKetta Project Connect grants:

  • Engineers' networking banquet
  • Student scholarship and awards night
  • Career night with local recruiters
  • Joint section/student chapter dinner meeting on "Job Interviews- How to Make a Good Impression"
  • "AIChE-Young-ChemE's-Eat-Free" dinner meeting
  • All-day luncheon program on "World Business and Future Growth in Chicago" (including Biotech/Nanotech); followed by networking reception
  • AIChE President Sid Sapakie visits Oregon for AIChE-OSU football weekend; presentation on AIChE member benefits and career guidance for young chemE's
  • Implementation of AIChE Singapore Senior Year Design Award
  • Student poster paper contest
  • Career night with company reps
  • Career guidance forums for local college students on the pros and cons, challenges and rewards of different chemical engineering career paths

The Project Connect Grants for Local Sections were inaugurated in 2001 to assist local sections with their efforts to reach out to students, recent chemical engineering graduates, and new engineers.

Shining Star Award

Details
Award

Free registration and expenses paid (up to $1000) to the 2024 Spring Meeting or 2024 Annual Fall Meeting.

DeadlineNovember 30, 2023
AdministratorsLocal Sections Committee (LSC)
PresentationShining Star Awards are announced in January. Winners are invited to attend the Local Section Committee meetings and Volunteer Recognition Reception at that year’s Spring or Annual meetings to be presented with their award.
Nomination Instructions

Nominations must be submitted by local section officers on behalf of members with at least three years of professional membership in AIChE. In each annual award cycle, a section's officers can submit up to two nominations. Both small and large local sections are invited to nominate their most active members.

This award is designed to recognize long-term volunteerism in the local section. It can also be to recognize an individual for a significant contribution to a large event like a conference.

We are looking for those volunteers that show:

  • Dedication and personal commitment to AIChE and the Local Section
  • Willingness to take on a daunting task
  • Eagerness to set an example for others
  • Willingness to step up and help the section when it needed it the most
  • A long history of service to the section
  • Infusion of new ideas / energy into the section

Nomination Procedure

Nominations must be received by November 30 and recipients will earn the award for redemption for one of two conference events in the following calendar year. 

Awards granted are based on merit as decided by the Local Sections Committee. The LSC can grant awards on a first come, first served basis if there are fewer eligible nominations than awards. If there are more eligible nominations than awards, then the LSC will award the best nominees.  This award can be awarded to an individual one time only.

Nomination Form

The Local Sections Committee and Career and Education Operating Council are proud to administer the Shining Star Award which recognizes outstanding volunteerism at the AIChE local section level and encourages members to become more involved in local section activities.