NPA Awards Categories

NPA Honors Individuals for
Excellence in the Networking Industry

Awards for Professionalism winners demonstrate the best in balance of professional responsibilities including technical competency, ethics and a proper professional, education and industry credentials, community and industry contributions, leadership, professional affiliation.

Each award winner receives a specially designed personalized trophy, membership in the Network Professional Association, consideration for the Certified Network Professional, and gifts from sponsors and partners to the Awards for Professionalism.

Best Networking Professional — Career Achievement Award
This award honors a network computing professional who has demonstrated years of the highest ideals of the network computing professional. This individual serves as a role model in the network computing community and may be considered by peers as an industry luminary.

Professional Excellence and Innovation Award
This award honors the network computing professional who has made the most effective combination of the ideals of professionalism and the innovative use of networking technology and/or products for a particular networking project or site.

Entries are accepted within the following subcategories:
Corporate Fortune X
Corporate Small Business
Education
Government
Independent Network Contractor

Outstanding Mentor Award
This award honors the networking professional who has made the most effective combination of the ideals of professionalism and the accomplished mentor.

Top of the Mark — Volunteer Award
This award honors the networking professional who has made the most effective combination of the ideals of professionalism and is a notable example of the best in giving back through selfless effort.

Candidates for the Awards for Professionalism are evaluated based on the nomination information provided. The judging panel looks at various aspects of the submission including whether the submission is complete and responsive to information requested, and can be validated by references and public sources. Evaluation includes to what degree has the nominee demonstrates technical competency, exhibits the tenants of the "Code of Ethics", leadership, and contributes to the technical community and the welfare of society. Consideration is given for IT certification and higher education, participation in industry professional associations, contributions to the knowledge base of technology, public speaking, and peer stature. Each category is weighted to emphasize the best representation of the award.