Award Nomination Guidelines

Guidelines for Tech Nite Nominations

All nominees must be headquartered or substantially based in the Shenandoah Valley Region. Membership in the SVTC is NOT required for nominee or nominator.

JMU College of Integrated Science and Engineering (CISE)’s Innovation in Community Impact Award

The ICI is awarded to an individual, team, non-profit/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. — A metric or measurable result of the impact is desired. Collaborative efforts are welcome and encouraged.

• (Short) one-paragraph descriptions of (each) entity involved (e.g. in a collaboration) where positive output (community impact) was aided and/or amplified by use of technology in the past year. (Jan 2018 – Feb 2019)
• Describe the technology or technology access that was used in the collaboration, project, process, or endeavor
• Describe how this can be distinguished from similar projects or other organizations
• How did the efforts and technology used impact the outcome for the Shenandoah Valley community? Please share metrics if available.

JMU College of Business (COB)’s Innovation in Emerging Business Award

Awarded to a Shenandoah Valley start-up/emerging technology company or entrepreneur. Must have 1-25 employees.

• In what year was the company established?
• Approximate number of employees in 2018? 2017? 2016?
• Approximate revenues in 2018? 2017? 2016?
• In no more than one paragraph, describe the technology product or service.
• Describe major accomplishments in recent years (recognitions awarded; grants received; products or services introduced; contracts awarded; strategic alliances).
• Describe how the nominee solves a problem via use of the solution, highlighting future growth potential, value propositions and competitive distinctions.
• Provide the Executive Summary of your business plan, if available, if you feel such information would help the judges to better understand the company

JMU College of Education (CoE)’s & JMU College of Science and Mathematics (CSM)’s Innovation in Education K-12 Award

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

• One-paragraph description of the entity where the nominee is employed or volunteers.
• Nominee’s primary responsibilities and title?
• Overview of the technology related program associated with the nomination.
• How does this program encourage and/or assist students to pursue college degrees in math, science, engineering or technology?
• Please provide “success” story examples and statistics

Cadence’s Innovation in Higher Education Award

Awarded to the educator or program that provides exceptional technology leadership, innovative use and/or development of technology in the Shenandoah Valley region’s higher educational system or technology-training program, while encouraging students to pursue higher education or training in science, technology, engineering, or math.

• Please provide a one paragraph description of the entity where you are employed or volunteer.
• What are your primary responsibilities and your title?
• Please provide an overview of the technology related program associated with the nomination.
• How does this program encourage and/or assist students to pursue college degrees in math, science, engineering or technology?
• Please provide “success” story examples and statistics

Center for Innovative Technology (CIT)’s 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.

• Describe the technology from the perspective of the developer.
• Describe its commercial and/or consumer applications.
• In what way has the technology driven business results for the company or clients?
• Describe the current status of technology development, including existence of prototypes, clinical tests or similar development activities that indicate commercial viability.
• Indicate any intellectual property protection and patents.
• Is the project budget above or below $100,000?

Dynamic Aviation’s 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).

• Describe the technology (are you the licensee of this technology?) and its commercial and/or consumer applications.
• In what way has the technology driven business results for you and/or your clients?
• Describe the current status of technology development, including existence of prototypes, clinical tests or similar development activities that indicate commercial viability.
• Indicate any intellectual property protection and patents.
• Is your project budget above or below $100,000?

Shentel’s Dr. Noftsinger Leadership Award

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

• LEADER PROFILE
  • Describe the leader’s education, work experience, professional affiliations/activities, community activities, awards/honors, and personal achievements (i.e. mini-resume).
  • Describe the individual’s current employer and work responsibilities.
• LEADERSHIP STORY
  • Describe the activities and efforts of the individual over time that have led to outstanding community benefits or outstanding technology-related activity in the Shenandoah Valley Region.
  • Why does this person stand out? What is the individual’s motivation and vision?
  • What odds or impediments have been overcome and how?
  • With what organizations has the individual worked to achieve his/her vision or results?
• IMPACT
  • What organizations or persons have benefited and how, due to the efforts of this individual?
  • How lasting or sustainable are the accomplishments of the individual?
  • In what ways are these accomplishments significant to the community or to the regional high tech economy?
  • Cite any quantitative, verifiable measures of impact from the efforts of the individual.