Special Achievement Awards Open Through June 30
June 20, 2024
It’s award season at USITT and we have four awards now open for nominations! All four awards will close June 30, so do not wait to nominate either yourself or whomever you think is deserving of these special honors!
Click on each award individually for more information and to nominate:
Honorary Lifetime Member Award
The Honorary Lifetime Membership Award is bestowed to a small but very distinguished group of individuals who have been recognized for providing a significant period of years of continuous and extraordinary service to the Institute. Prior to 1992, a USITT membership category made it possible to pay a fee for a period of time in order to become a "Lifetime Member." Once the designation of Honorary Lifetime Member was approved by the Board of Directors, the lifetime membership category was phased out. The first Honorary Lifetime Membership Award was presented in 1992 to Samuel H. Scripps and in 1996 the Institute began using the Honorary Lifetime Membership Award as a way to recognize "a significant period of years of continuous and extraordinary service to the Institute." This honor has been awarded infrequently.
The Joel E. Rubin Founder's Award is presented to a USITT member in recognition of outstanding and continued service to the Institute. This award was named in honor of Dr. Joel E. Rubin, co-founder and the second president of the Institute. Given to USITT members in recognition of extraordinary and continued service to the Institute, the award is presented as an important highlight of the Annual Conference & Stage Expo.
The USITT Award, the highest honor given by USITT, recognizes a lifetime of distinguished contribution to the performing arts or entertainment communities in any capacity.
Recipients of this award need not be members of nor have any connection to USITT. The award is presented at the Annual Conference & Stage Expo where the recipient is honored. When appropriate, one or more awards may be given, annually, though not required.
USITT recognizes excellence and significant contributions in the performing arts and entertainment industry, in the areas of design and technology, through a variety of awards. These awards honor established professionals and performing arts/entertainment-focused organizations throughout the world. Nominations for these special awards are accepted from the membership-at-large.
The Thomas DeGaetani Award, named in honor of the first USITT president, honors an outstanding lifetime contribution to the performing arts or entertainment industry by an individual or a performing arts/entertainment-focused organization living and/or working in a particular region of the country, generally near the location of the Annual Conference & Stage Expo. Recipients of this award have distinguished themselves by their service or contribution in the arts or entertainment within that region.