The biennial NDSA Excellence Awards were established in 2012 to recognize and encourage exemplary achievement in the field of digital preservation stewardship at a level of national or international importance. Over the years many individuals, projects, and organizations have been honored for their meaningful contributions to the field of digital preservation.
The time has come again to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of our colleagues! Nominations are now being accepted for the NDSA 2025 Excellence Awards.
Anyone, any institution, or any project acting in the context of the award categories (noted below) can be nominated for an award. No NDSA membership or affiliation is required. Self-nomination is accepted and encouraged, as are submissions reflecting the needs and accomplishments of historically marginalized and underrepresented communities.
We encourage you to help us highlight and reward distinctive approaches to digital preservation practice. Please submit nominations here: 2025 NDSA Excellence Awards Nominations form. Awards will be presented at the Digital Preservation 2025 event this fall.
Nominations are accepted in the following categories:
- Individual Award: Recognizing those individuals making a significant contribution to the digital preservation community through advances in theory or practice.
- Educator Award: Recognizing academics, trainers, and curricular endeavors promoting effective and inventive approaches to digital preservation education through academic programs, partnerships, professional development opportunities, and curriculum development.
- Future Steward Award: Recognizing students and early-career professionals making an impact on advancing knowledge and practice of digital preservation stewardship.
- Organization Award: Recognizing those organizations providing support, guidance, advocacy, or leadership for the digital preservation community.
- Project Award: Recognizing those activities whose goals or outcomes make a significant contribution or strategic or conceptual understanding necessary for successful digital preservation stewardship.
- Sustainability Award: Recognizing those activities whose goals or outcomes make a significant contribution to operational trustworthiness, monitoring, maintenance, or intervention necessary for sustainable digital preservation stewardship.
If you need a little inspiration, check out our webpage for lists of past winners or this blog post on submitting a notable nomination. If you have any questions about the nomination form, please contact the Excellence Awards Working Group co-chairs.
