Award

Diversity & Inclusion Award

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Awards

Diversity & Inclusion Award

Award

Individual DEI – Tony Carnell
2025 Individual Award Recipient

Tony Carnell

DEI – Organizational
2025 Organizational Award Recipient

Texas AWWA

SETH Program

Award Criteria

Purpose of the Award:

Recognize an individual, group, or organization that has created, promoted, and maintained diversity and inclusion by establishing an environment that recognizes, encourages, and effectively utilizes each individual’s talents.

AWWA recognizes the role of diversity and inclusion as being essential to the growth, structure, and continued success of any organization. Diversity and inclusion should be an inherent trait of any organization and is manifest in the mosaic of people who bring a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, values, and beliefs as assets to a group or organization in which they interact. The Diversity and Inclusion Award is not given to an individual, group, or organization on the basis of who they are, but because of their achievements and accomplishments.

The Award

An exquisite sculpture that embodies the essence of accomplishment and serve as a testament to the recipient’s dedication and contributions. Each Diversity and Inclusion award is accompanied by a personalized inscribed nameplate to honor and preserve the recipient’s name and accomplishment.

Frequency of the Award

One award annually or as deserved at the discretion of the AWWA Diversity and Inclusion Award Committee.

Eligibility for the Award

An AWWA individual, group, or organizational member who has promoted or demonstrated excellence and leadership in most or all of the following areas:

  • Bringing a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, values and beliefs as assets to a group or organization with which they interact.
  • Establishing an environment that recognizes and encourages the effective use of each individual’s talents and other contributions to the cause of diversity.
  • Promotion and fostering of diversity programs such as mentoring, support networks, internship programs, co-op programs, work study, diversity training, or other opportunities.
  • Development of management accountability/tracking methods as means of quantifying the impact of the efforts to increase and maintain diversity.

Entry Requirements

AWWA entry form along with full name, address, and biographical information (for individuals) of each nominee, and a detailed yet concise description of how the nominee meets the eligibility criteria. Self nominations are accepted.

Nomination Procedure

A nomination for the award may be submitted by any AWWA member (individual or organization) or Section to American Water Works Association, Attn:  Executive Dept., 6666 W. Quincy Avenue, Denver, CO 80235 and will be transmitted to the Diversity Award Committee for consideration. Current nominees may be reconsidered for one year. Updates to the nomination for reconsideration may be requested by the committee.

Nomination Deadline

November 1

Award Committee Membership

The committee shall consist of the AWWA President, the Chair of the Diversity & Member Inclusion Committee, one Board member and two non-Board members of the Diversity & Member Inclusion Committee appointed by the Chair.

Method of Selecting Award Recipient

The Diversity and Inclusion Award Committee selects a candidate from the list of nominees for the award and submits the selected nominee to the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for approval at its winter meeting.

Presentation of the Award

The award will be presented at the Opening General Session of the American Water Works Association Annual Conference and Exposition.

Nominations

Award Submissions

Submission Deadline: November 1

For questions reach out to Nancy Sullivan at nsullivan@awwa.org.

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Diversity and Inclusion Award
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Award Winners

Past Recipients

Congratulations to the past recipients of this prestigious award.

Individual Award Winner: Calvin Farr

Organizational Award Winner: Prince William County Service Authority (PWCSA)

Individual Award Winner: Nicole Brown

Organizational Award Winner: Toho Water Authority

Nicole-Brown

Individual Award Winner: Stephen J. Welch, Contra Costa Water District

Organizational Award Winner: Black & Veatch

Individual Award Winner: Cathy Bernardino Bailey, Executive Director, Greater Cincinnati Water Works

Organizational Award Winner: Xylem, Inc.

Individual Award Winner: L’Oreal Stepney, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Organizational Award Winner: AECOM Technical Services, Inc.

Individual Award Winner: Don Jones, Cuyamaca College

Organizational Award Winner: Stantec

Organizational Award Winner: California Water Service, California-Nevada Section

Organizational Award Winner: Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc., Fort Worth, Texas

Organizational Award Winner: Minneapolis Water Treatment and Distribution Services Division, Minnesota Section

Organizational Award Winner: Dallas Water Utilities, Texas Section

Individual Award Winner: Ronald K. Tamada, Texas Section

Organizational Award Winner: Las Vegas Valley Water District, CA/NV Section

Organizational Award Winner: Central Arkansas Water, Southwest Section

Organizational Award Winner: The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati

Organizational Award Winner: City of Seattle, Pacific Northwest Section

Organizational Award Winner: City of Fort Worth Water Department, Texas Section

No Award Given

Organizational Award Winner: South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, Connecticut Section

Organizational Award Winner: City of San Diego Water Authority, California-Nevada Section

Individual Award Winner: Yasser M. AbouAish, Minnesota Section

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