ASA Awards
Celebrating Leadership, Innovation, and Impact in Aging
The American Society on Aging Membership Awards recognize the individuals, organizations, and collaborative efforts making a meaningful difference in the field of aging. These awards celebrate excellence, advance innovative approaches, and honor the people and projects helping create a more equitable, inclusive, and age-friendly society.
Award recipients will be recognized at On Aging 2027, ASA’s annual conference, during the Closing General Session on April 1, 2027.
We invite ASA members to help us celebrate the outstanding work happening across the aging network by submitting a nomination. Whether recognizing a colleague’s contributions, highlighting an innovative project, or celebrating a leader whose work has shaped the field, your nomination helps bring exceptional achievements into the spotlight.
The Evolution of ASA Awards
As the work of our members and the field of aging continues to evolve, so does how ASA recognizes their impact. Our updated award categories celebrate the contributions, leadership, and innovation of our members while reflecting our shared values and vision for the future. These changes recognize the diverse ways our members are advancing the field, strengthening communities, championing equity, and improving the lives of older adults. By aligning our awards with the priorities and progress of our field, we aim to honor the individuals and organizations whose work inspires meaningful change and moves us closer to a more inclusive, equitable, and age-inclusive society.
Also new this year, all ASA members will have the opportunity to help select the winners of each award. Following the nomination and review process, finalists in each category will be presented to the membership for a vote, giving members a direct voice in recognizing the outstanding contributions of their peers.
To be eligible to receive an ASA Membership Award, nominees must be current ASA members. If nominating a program or organization, an individual associated with that program or organization must be an ASA member. We welcome nominations recognizing the outstanding contributions of eligible members who are making a meaningful difference in the field of aging. Self nominations are also encouraged.
Explore the Awards
Diversity Equity & Inclusion Award
Honors an individual, organization or initiative reducing disparities in aging tied to race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, income or geography. Nominees should show how their work has expanded access, opportunity or better outcomes for older adults or the aging workforce.
Age Inclusive Champion Award
Honors an individual, organization or initiative challenging ageism and building age-inclusive practices, policies or communities. Nominees should show how their work has changed attitudes, opened opportunities or helped people of all ages take part fully in community life.
Cross-Sector Collaboration Award
Honors a partnership that brings together organizations from different sectors, such as aging services, health care, housing, transportation, business or government, to improve the lives of older adults. Winning partnerships show results that no single partner could have reached alone, and a way of working together that others can learn from.
ASA Impact Award
Honors a project, initiative or body of work that has measurably improved the lives of older adults or strengthened the field of aging. Nominees should show clear evidence of results, such as people reached, outcomes changed or practices adopted by others.
ASA Hall of Fame Award
Honors an individual whose career and leadership have shaped the field of aging and left a lasting legacy for older adults and the people and organizations who serve them.
Gloria Cavanaugh Award
Honors an individual or program that has strengthened the aging workforce through outstanding training and education. Nominees should show how their work has built skills, spread effective practices or improved the care and services older adults receive.
Graduate Student Research Award
Honors a graduate student whose research advances understanding of aging and has clear value for practice or policy. Open to master’s and doctoral students.
2027 Awards Timeline
November 1, 2026
Nominations open
December 14, 2026
Nominations close
January 4-15, 2027
ASA members are invited to vote on award finalists
March 1, 2027
Award winners are announced
April 1, 2027
Award recipients are recognized during the On Aging 2027 Closing General Session
Submit a Nomination
Do you know someone whose work deserves to be recognized? Help ASA celebrate the people and projects moving the field of aging forward.
Review the award categories above and submit a nomination for an individual, organization, project, or initiative that exemplifies the purpose of an award. Self nominations are accepted.
We look forward to celebrating the outstanding contributions of the ASA community at On Aging 2027!
