Award Categories

Tech Nite is the Valley’s annual premier gathering to highlight and honor local technology achievement and innovation in 8 award categories. Nominees and approximately 200 attendees gather annually to cheer the successes of the Valley’s technology firms, organizations, and programs, and the entrepreneurs and innovators behind those successes. Congratulations to 22 nominees in 2022, and the 8 winners, below!

Innovation in Community Impact - CISE Graphic

Innovation in Community Impact Award

The Community Impact Award is given to an individual, team, nonprofit/civic organization, or company in the Shenandoah Valley that aspires to use its capabilities to help solve a social or environmental issue in a local community while using technology to amplify the impact of a service, mission, or project.

  1. BRCC & JMU workforce collaboration for Merck
  2. LingoNetworks “drive-In” public wi-fi access  (WINNER)
  3. Sentara RMH Medical Center heart failure clinic and technology
GreeneHurlocker Emerging Business Award Graphic

Innovation in Emerging Business Award

Awarded to a Shenandoah Valley start-up/emerging technology company or entrepreneur.

  1. Esports Development and Growth Enterprise
  2. Flathat
  3. Retail VR
  4. Valley UAV Services  (WINNER)

Innovation in Education K-12 Award

Awarded to the educator or program in K-12 that provides exceptional technology leadership, innovative use and/or development of technology while encouraging students to pursue higher education or training in science, technology, engineering or math.

  1. NEXTGEN Aviators (Dynamic Aviation) (WINNER)
  2. Signal Knob Middle School (Shenandoah County)
  3. Stone Spring Elementary School (Harrisonburg City)

Innovation In Higher Education Award

Awarded to the educator or program in higher education that provides exceptional technology leadership, innovative use and/or development of technology while encouraging students to pursue higher education or training in science, technology, engineering or math.

  1. Bluestone Communications
  2. Blue Ridge Community College (WINNER)
  3. Lord Fairfax Community College


Innovation in Development Award

Awarded to a company or organization whose development of new technology applications and/or systems creates new processes, methodologies, and/or services for their own or others’ benefit.

  1. Central Virginia Prep
  2. Dynamic Aviation Collab. with/ Merlin Labs
  3. Jenzabar
  4. RecRe (WINNER)

Innovation in Utilization Award

This award recognizes outstanding commercial growth and achievement by an established company that either produces or markets high tech products or services, or an established company or organization that produces/offers more traditional products and services (where technology itself is not the core business purpose).

  1. A.G. Stacker (WINNER)
  2. Tiber Creek Consulting

Dr. John Noftsinger Leadership Award

The recipient’s leadership has served as a catalyst for positive technology-related activity in the Shenandoah Valley.

  1. Jennifer Whetzel, County of Augusta
  2. Kim Blosser, Lord Fairfax Community College (WINNER)
  3. Michael Stoltzfus, Dynamic Aviation
Serco's People's Choice Award