Carol Chambers, 2023 recipient of the Aldo Leopold Memorial Award
Recognizing our Peers
A refreshed approach to recognizing excellence
The Wildlife Society (TWS) has updated its awards program to ensure that recognition remains meaningful and memorable. As TWS has grown, so too have our awards. Feedback from members, leaders, and past recipients, though, has cautioned that presenting too many awards at once could diminish their visibility and significance.
In response, TWS has created a more focused and intentional awards structure – one that elevates each honor, tells stronger stories about impact and more fully celebrates those advancing wildlife conservation. By concentrating attention and resources, TWS will spotlight awardees with the recognition they deserve, amplify their contributions to the profession and draw stronger connections between each award and the mission of TWS.
This refreshed approach reinforces TWS’ commitment to honoring excellence in ways that inspire members, engage partners, and highlight the vital role wildlife professionals play in conservation success.
For questions or additional information on TWS Awards, please contact awards@wildlife.org.
NOMINATIONS FOR THE ALDO LEOPOLD MEMORIAL AWARD, TWS FELLOWS, and PUBLICATION AWARDS ARE ACCEPTED UNTIL MARCH 1 EACH YEAR.
ALL OTHER AWARD NOMINIATIONS CAN BE SUBMITTED UNTIL MAY 1.
Nominators should refer to the individual awards to be sure they have the criteria needed for submission. Nomination materials for all awards, except for the Aldo Leopold Memorial Award, TWS Fellows, and Wildlife Publication Awards, must be submitted by May 1. Incomplete nomination packets will not be considered.
Nominations for all awards, except Wildlife Publication Awards, should be submitted through the online submissions site. Beginning February 1st. Nominators will need to set up a new account or log in using their TWS conference log in information (this may or may not be the same as your TWS log in) to submit the nomination packet.
Click here to submit a 2026 award nomination.
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The Wildlife Society Awards
Aldo Leopold Memorial Award (Due March 1)
TWS Fellows Award (Due March 1)
Caesar Kleberg Award For Excellence in Applied Wildlife Research
Elizabeth Beard Losey Diversity Award
Jay N. “Ding” Darling Memorial Award for Wildlife Stewardship Through Art
Donald H. Rusch Memorial Game Bird Research Scholarship
Ronald F. Labisky Graduate Fellowship in Wildlife Policy
Special Recognition Award
Student Chapter of the Year Award - Publication Awards
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Nomination Process
Nominations for all awards, except Wildlife Publication Awards, should be submitted through the online submissions site. Beginning February 1st. Nominators will need to log in to submit the nomination packet.
Click here to submit your nomination.
Nominators should refer to the individual awards to be sure they have the criteria needed for submission. Nomination materials for all awards, except Wildlife Publication Awards, must be submitted by May 1. Incomplete nomination packets will not be considered.

