Herff College of Engineering
Herff College Announces Expanded Herff Awards and New Hall of Fame to Honor Excellence in Engineering
March 25, 2026
Herff College of Engineering is proud to announce the expansion of its annual Herff Awards, a longstanding tradition that celebrates excellence within the college's faculty, staff, students, and alumni. This year, the College is broadening this important initiative to honor members of the internal Herff community and distinguished leaders and alumni whose professional achievements and service have made a lasting impact on engineering and society. The 2026 Herff Awards Ceremony will be held on Friday, April 23, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., where the College will formally recognize honorees across all categories.
As part of this expansion, Herff College is introducing the Herff Hall of Fame, a new recognition platform designed to highlight individuals whose careers exemplify the highest ideals of the engineering profession. The Hall of Fame acknowledges those whose leadership, innovation, and service extend far beyond the classroom and positively shape industries, communities, and society as a whole. Their accomplishments serve as a powerful testament to the enduring value of a Herff engineering education.
The Hall of Fame features three tiers of recognition, reflecting the breadth and depth of honoree contributions:
Tier 1 – Hall of Fame Inductee (Highest Honor), reserved for individuals whose lifetime achievements have significantly influenced the engineering field
Tier 2 – Distinguished Achievement Awards, recognizing impactful professional accomplishments and leadership
Tier 3 – Emerging Leader Award (Young Engineer Award), honoring rising professionals who demonstrate exceptional promise early in their careers. The College invites nominations from across the Herff community to ensure that these honors reflect the diverse achievements of alumni and engineering leaders connected to the mission and success of the College.
This expanded recognition effort aligns directly with Goal 5 of the Herff College of Engineering Strategic Plan 2024–2029, which emphasizes recruiting, retaining, rewarding, and recognizing the people who shape the college's future. The Herff Awards have long stood as a meaningful opportunity to uplift members of the Herff community, and the addition of the Hall of Fame amplifies this commitment by celebrating excellence both within and beyond the College.
In addition to the new Hall of Fame recognitions, the College will continue its tradition of awarding the internal Herff Awards, which highlight outstanding contributions from faculty, staff, and students. These honors include the Herff Outstanding Staff Award, Outstanding Faculty Research Award, Outstanding Faculty Service Award, Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award, In the News Award, and Public Outreach Award.
Herff College encourages faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners to submit nominations for all categories. Together, these recognitions showcase the remarkable individuals whose work propels Herff College of Engineering and the engineering profession forward. We encourage you to submit a nomination. Explore full details about the Awards and Honors here.