Section Awards

Each year, AACE International recognizes the outstanding work of its sections worldwide. These awards celebrate innovation, engagement, and impact made throughout the year. We’re proud to highlight the following sections for their excellence.

Rising Star Award: The Rising Star Award recognizes the most improved section or section revitalization efforts. It could be for new sections who have put forth significant effort to increase interest in their area.
Excellence in Innovation Award: The Excellence in Innovation Award recognizes creativity and innovation. It is for sections that develop a unique or creative initiative outside of the section’s regular duties. It could be a new program, innovative outreach efforts, diversity/equity/inclusion initiatives, creative ways to overcome language barriers, or a different program or service. This is intentionally a broad category.
Outreach Award: The Outreach Award recognizes a section with significant outreach efforts. This could be for student and university outreach, outreach to prospective new individual members, or outreach to prospective organizations to join under AACE organizational membership.
Community Service Award: The Community Service Award recognizes efforts for community outreach projects.
Member Engagement Award: The Member Engagement Award recognizes a section for membership engagement efforts. Examples of member engagement efforts include general member recognition, mentorship, new member initiatives, recognizing new certificants, or efforts to engage through the section's online community or social media.

Sections will need to submit an application to be eligible and a narrative on why your submission fits the specified award. The application period will be open from January 1 - March 31, and winners will be announced at the AACE Conference & Expo.

While sections may apply for more than one award, a section will only be eligible for one award per year. Each category may have an honorable mention.

Please contact us if you have any questions at sections@aacei.org.

The prior section awards were based on a point system relating to the Section Minimum Standards. Please see the previous section award winners below.

Section Awards

Rising Star Award

The Rising Star Award recognizes the most improved section or section revitalization efforts. It could be for new sections who have put forth significant effort to increase interest in their area.

Winner:

Chinook-Calgary Section

The Chinook-Calgary Section breathed new life into its activities by launching a dedicated event hub at CSPACE, a beautifully restored historic building in Calgary’s inner city. This dynamic venue offers coworking space, galleries, a theatre, and a café, making it an ideal networking hub.

Additional revitalization efforts included:

Branded SWAG (backpacks, mugs, pens, journals)
Marketing banners and name tags
Expanded events: 7 hosted (Sep–Dec 2024), up from 3 in 2023
143% increase in total attendance
12% increase in average attendance per event

The section also partnered with CIOB for joint programming and introduced early-bird pricing for technical dinner meetings at a 43% discount.

Outreach Award

The Outreach Award recognizes a section with significant outreach efforts. This could be for student and university outreach, outreach to prospective new individual members, or outreach to prospective organizations to join under AACE organizational membership.

Winner:

Malaysia Section

The Malaysia Section more than doubled its membership in 2024—an incredible achievement driven by strategic and sustained outreach efforts.

Key highlights:

Structured onboarding and member recognition
Corporate membership reimbursement partnerships
Strong social media engagement
Active collaboration with universities and local industries
Certified members mentoring CCP, CEP, and PSP candidates

These efforts created a robust pipeline of new and engaged members.

Member Engagement Award

The Member Engagement Award recognizes a section for membership engagement efforts. Examples of member engagement efforts include general member recognition, mentorship, new member initiatives, recognizing new certificants, or efforts to engage through the section's online community or social media.

Winner:

Peru Section

The Peru Section led a comprehensive engagement strategy to support its members professionally and socially.

Noteworthy initiatives:

LinkedIn recognition for new members and certificants
Dedicated mentorship communities on WhatsApp and LinkedIn
(Over 1,700 combined participants across 3 groups)
Tailored benefits for young professionals
Collaborations with project management communities

Their approach built a vibrant, supportive network that advances the Total Cost Management and project controls in Peru.

Excellence in Innovation Award

The Excellence in Innovation Award recognizes creativity and innovation. It is for sections that develop a unique or creative initiative outside of the section’s regular duties. It could be a new program, innovative outreach efforts, diversity/equity/inclusion initiatives, creative ways to overcome language barriers, or a different program or service. This is intentionally a broad category.

Winner:

DACH Section

The DACH Section stood out with its innovative programming and thought leadership.

Highlights include:

A dedicated webinar series in collaboration with R9
Certification-focused sessions and tech spotlights
Launch of public technical articles on LinkedIn
(Notably: Building a Reliable Escalation Model by C. Ramdhor, with comments from TCM Framework Editor John K. Hollmann)
All webinar recordings now available on their YouTube channel

These initiatives significantly boosted member engagement and public visibility.

Community Service Award

The Community Service Award recognizes efforts for community outreach projects.

Winner:

Utah Section

Small but mighty, the Utah Section exemplified community spirit by volunteering at the Utah Food Bank during the holiday season. Their hands-on support from Thanksgiving through Christmas served as a textbook example of effective local outreach.

Congratulations to all the award-winning sections!
Your dedication and creativity continue to elevate AACE’s mission and create lasting impact across the global community.

2024 Section Awards

Rising Star Award

Winner:
DACH

Honorable Mentions:
Denmark & Sweden
Trinidad and Tobago
Venezuela

Outreach Award

Winner:
Montréal

Honorable Mentions:
New Jersey
Peru
Southern California
Toronto

Member Engagement Award

Winner:
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Honorable Mentions:
Chinook-Calgary
Hawaii

Excellence in Innovation Award

Winner:
Boston

Community Service Award

Winner:
Peru

2023 Section Awards

Platinum Award (2000+ points)

Arabian Gulf
Australian
Chinook-Calgary
Greater Cairo
Japan
Nigeria
North Florida
Peru
Qatar

Gold Award (1000-1999 points)

Atlanta Area
Boston
Brazil
British Columbia
Bruce County
Houston Gulf Coast
India
National Capital
New Jersey
New Mexico
Rattlesnake Mountain
Southern California
Toronto
United Arab Emirates

Silver Award (700-999 points)

Aurora-Edmonton
Bolivia
Great Lakes
Malaysia
New York Metro
Pakistan

Bronze Award (400-699 points)

C. Savannah River
Central Ohio
Chile
Colombia
Idaho Snake River
Long Island
Omaha
Southwestern Ohio

2022 Section Awards

Platinum Award (2000+ points)

Arabian Gulf
Atlanta Area
Australian
Brazil
Chile
Chinook-Calgary
Greater Cairo
Houston Gulf Coast
India
National Capital
New York Metro
Nigeria
Peru
Qatar
Southern California
Toronto

Gold Award (1000-1999 points)

British Columbia
Bruce County
Central Ohio
Connecticut
Dallas Ft. Worth
Hawaii
Montreal
New Mexico
North Florida
San Francisco
Seattle
Southwestern Ohio

Silver Award (700-999 points)

Aurora-Edmonton
Boston
C. Savannah River
Delaware Valley
Great Lakes
Greater Miami
Italy
Jordan
Keystone-Manitoba
Louisiana
Malaysia
New Jersey
Pittsburgh
Spain

Bronze Award (400-699 points)

Idaho Snake River
Indiana Hoosier
Long Island
Norway
Omaha
Rattlesnake Mountain
Southern African
St. Louis
Utah

2021 Section Awards

Platinum Award (2000+ points)

Arabian Gulf
Atlanta Area

Gold Award (1000-1999 points)

Arizona
Australian
British Columbia
Bruce County
Chinook-Calgary
Colombia
Dallas Ft. Worth
Greater Cairo
Greater Miami
Houston Gulf Coast
New Mexico
New York Metro
North Florida
Qatar
Russia
San Francisco
Seattle
Southern African
Toronto
Turkey
United Arab Emirates

Silver Award (700-999 points)

Aurora-Edmonton
Central Ohio
Central Savannah River
Chicago-Midwest
Connecticut
Hawaii
Kansas City
Keystone-Manitoba
Louisiana
Montreal
National Capital
North Carolina
Norway
Southwestern Ohio
Utah

Bronze Award (400-699 points)

Boston
Great Lakes
Idaho Snake River
India
Indiana Hoosier
Long Island
Malaysia
New Jersey
Spain
St. Louis

2020 Section Awards

Platinum Award (2000+ points)

Bruce County Local
North Florida
Hawaii
Russia
Seattle
Southern California

Gold Award (1000-1999 points)

Arabian Gulf
Arizona
Central Virgingia
Dallas Ft. Worth
Delaware Valley
Great Lakes
Houston Gulf Coast
India
Indiana Hoosier
Italy
Long Island
National Capital
New Mexico
Norway
Pittsburgh
Peru
Pittsburgh
Qatar
Rattlesnake Mountain
San Francisco
South Central California
Southwestern Ohio
Toronto

Silver Award (700-999 points)

Atlanta Area
Benelux
Boston
Central Ohio
Central Savannah River Area
Connecticut
France
Greater Cairo
Montreal
New Jersey
Louisiana
Southern African
Spokane

Bronze Award (400-699 points)

Spain
United Arab Emirates

2019 Section Awards

Platinum Award (2000+ points)

Arabian Gulf
Central Asia
India
Italy
National Capital
Nigeria
Qatar
Russia
Seattle
Southern California

Gold Award (1000-1999 points)

Arizona
Bolivia
Boston
Brazil
Bruce County
Central Savannah River
Central Virginia
Chinook-Calgary
Eastern Europe and Balkans
France
Great Lakes
Greece
Hawaii
Houston Gulf Coast
Indiana Hoosier
Long Island
Montreal
New Jersey
New Mexico
North Florida
Norway
Omaha
Peru
Pittsburgh
Rattlesnake Mountain
Rocky Mountain
San Francisco
South Korea
South Africa
Toronto
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Utah

Silver Award (700-999 points)

Baltimore Metro
British Columbia
Central Ohio
China
Connecticut
Japan
Louisiana
Poland and Ukraine
Southwestern Ohio
Spain

Bronze Award (400-699 points)

Atlanta Area
Chicago-Midwest
Kansas City
Keystone-Manitoba
Las Vegas
Spokane

2018 Section Awards

Platinum Award (2000+ points)

Arabian Gulf
Aurora-Edmonton
Central Asia
Hawaii
Italy
National Capital
Nigeria
Russia
Seattle
South African
Southern California

Gold Award (1000-1999 points)

Alaska
Arizona
British Columbia
Central Ohio
Central Savannah River Area
Central Virginia
Chicago
Chinook-Calgary
Conneticut
France
Great Lakes
Houston Gulf Coast
Japan
Las Vegas
Louisiana
Montreal
New Mexico
North Florida
Northern NM
Norway
Omaha
Pittsburgh
Portugal
Qatar
Rocky Mountain
San Francisco
Southwestern OH
Spain
Toronto
Turkey
United Kingdom
Utah

Silver Award (700-999 points)

Atlanta
Keystone-Manitoba
New Jersey
South Central CA
St. Louis
United Arab Emirates
Upcountry South Carolina

Bronze Award (400-699 points)

Capital California
Dallas/Ft. Worth
Oklahoma
Spokane

2016-2017 Section Awards

Platinum Award (2000+ points)

Aurora-Edmonton
National Capital
AGS
Greater Russia
Italy

Gold Award (1000-1999 points)

British Columbia
Chinook-Calgary
Montreal
Toronto
Connecticut
New York LI
Pittsburgh
Central Savannah River
North Florida
Central Ohio
Chicago Midwest
Great Lakes
Indiana Hoosier
Southwestern Ohio
Arizona
Houston Gulf Coast
New Mexico
Rocky Mountain
Alaska
San Francisco
Southern California
Hawaii
Las Vegas
Rattlesnake Mountain
Seattle
Qatar
Australia
Central Asia
France
Spain
Portugal
South Africa
Nigeria
Peru

Silver Award (700-999 points)

Keystone-Manitoba
New Jersey
Atlanta
Central Virginia
Up Country South Carolina
Minnesota
Omaha
St. Louis
Utah
South Central CA
Idaho Snake River
Egypt
Kuwait
Japan
Norway
UK
Brazil

Bronze Award (400-699 points)

Louisiana
Kansas City
Oklahoma
Dallas Fort Worth
Spokane
China

2015-2016 Section Awards

Platinum Award (1500+ points)

Alaska
Arabian Gulf
Arizona
Atlanta Area
Aurora-Edmonton
Central Savannah River Area
Chinook-Calgary
Connecticut
Greater Russia
Houston-Gulf Coast
Montreal
National Capital
North Florida
San Francisco Bay Area
Seattle
Southern California
United Arab Emirates

Gold Award (1000-1499 points)

British Columbia
Central Texas
Chicago-Midwest
Hawaii
Idaho Snake River
Las Vegas
Long Island
New Jersey
New Mexico
Qatar
Rattlesnake Mountain
Rocky Mountain
South Central California
Upcountry South Carolina

Silver Award (799-999 points)

Capital California
Cascade
Central Ohio
Delaware Valley
New Orleans
Oklahoma
Southwest Ohio
Utah

Bronze Award (400-699 points)

Baltimore Metro
Central Virginia
East Tennessee
Kansas City
Minnesota
New England – Boston
Omaha

2014-2015 Section Awards

Platinum Award (1500+ points)

Alaska
Arabian Gulf
Arizona
Atlanta Area
Aurora-Edmonton
Baltimore Metro
Cascade
Central Ohio
Central Texas
Central Savannah River Area
Chinook-Calgary
Chicago - Midwest
Connecticut
East Tennessee
Hawaii
Houston-Gulf Coast
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Montreal
National Capital
New England - Boston
New Jersey
San Francisco Bay Area
Seattle
Southern California
United Arab Emirates

Gold Award (1000-1499 points)

Indiana Hoosier
New Orleans
North Florida
Rattlesnake Mountain
Russian
South Central CA
Utah

Silver Award (799-999 points)

Brazil
Idaho Snake River
New Mexico
Peru

Bronze Award (400-699 points)

British Columbia
Capital California
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
Toronto
Upcountry South

2013-2014 Section Awards

Platinum Award (1500+ points)

Atlanta Area
Chinook-Calgary
Houston Gulf Coast
National Capital
San Francisco Bay Area
Southern California

Gold Award (1000-1499 points)

Alaska
Arabian Gulf
Arizona
Central Savannah River Area
Delaware Valley
Chicago Midwest
New Jersey
Seattle
Southwest Ohio
St. Louis
United Arab Emirates

Silver Award (799-999 points)

Aurora-Edmonton
Connecticut Nutmeg
Great Lakes
Indiana Hoosier
Rattlesnake Mountain

Bronze Award (400-699 points)

Baltimore Metro
Idaho Snake River
Upcountry South Carolina

2012-2013 Section Awards

Platinum Award (1500+ points)

Arabian Gulf
Arizona
Chinook-Calgary
Greater Russia
National Capital
Rocky Mountain
San Francisco
Southern California
United Arab Emirates

Gold Award (1000-1499 points)

Alaska
Atlanta Area
Central Savannah River Area
Connecticut
Nevada
Seattle
Upcountry South Carolina

Silver Award (799-999 points)

Aurora-Edmonton
Central Ohio
Central Texas
Montreal

Bronze Award (400-699 points)

Indiana Hoosier

2011-2012 Section Awards

Platinum Award (1500+ points)

Arabian Gulf
Arizona
Chinook-Calgary
Greater Russia
National Capital
Rocky Mountain
San Francisco
Southern California
United Arab Emirates

Gold Award (1000-1499 points)

Alaska
Atlanta Area
Central Savannah River Area
Connecticut
Nevada
Seattle
Upcountry South Carolina

Silver Award (799-999 points)

Aurora-Edmonton
Central Ohio
Central Texas
Montreal

Bronze Award (400-699 points)

Indiana Hoosier

2010-2011 Section Awards

President's Circle

Atlanta Area
Chinook-Calgary
Houston Gulf Coast
San Francisco Bay Area
Southern California
United Arab Emirates

Outstanding Recognition

Arizona
Central Savannah River Area
Delaware Valley
East Tennessee
Great Lakes
National Capital
Nevada
New Jersey
St. Louis

Superior Recognition

Alaska
Chicago-Midwest
Idaho-Snake River
Rattlesnake Mountain
Southwestern Ohio

Excellent Recognition

Baltimore-Metro
Southern African

2009-2010 Section Awards

President's Circle

Chinook-Calgary
Southern California

Outstanding Recognition

Atlanta Area
Central Savannah River
East Tennessee
National Capital
New Jersey
San Francisco

Superior Recognition

Alaska
Chicago-Midwest
Idaho-Snake River
Rattlesnake Mountain
Southwestern Ohio

Excellent Recognition

Arabian Gulf

2008-2009 Section Awards

President's Circle

Southern California

Outstanding Recognition

Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee
Houston Gulf Coast
Nevada
New Jersey

Superior Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Atlanta Area
Central Savannah River
Great Lakes
St. Louis

Excellent Recognition

Catawba Valley
Chicago-Midwest
National Capital
Rattlesnake Mountain

2007-2008 Section Awards

President's Circle

Chinook-Calgary
Southern California

Outstanding Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Atlanta
Central Savannah River
East Tennessee
Houston Gulf Coast
Nevada
St. Louis

Superior Recognition

Catawba Valley
New Jersey
Seattle

Excellent Recognition

Cascade
Upcountry South Carolina
Rattlesnake Mountain

Honorable Mention

Upcountry South Carolina

2006-2007 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Atlanta
Central Savannah River
Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee
Houston Gulf Coast
Nevada
Southern California
St. Louis

Superior Recognition

Cascade
New Jersey
Seattle

Excellent Recognition

Catawba Valley

2005-2006 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Atlanta
Central Savannah River
Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee
Houston Gulf Coast
Nevada
Southern California
St. Louis

Superior Recognition

Cascade
New Jersey
Seattle

Excellent Recognition

Catawba Valley
Metro New York
New Mexico
Southern African

2004-2005 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Atlanta
Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee
Genesee Valley
Southern California
St. Louis

Superior Recognition

Cascade
Catawba Valley
Central Savannah River Area
Houston Gulf Coast
Nevada

Excellent Recognition

Kansas City
New Jersey
Rattlesnake Mountain
Southwestern Ohio

2003-2004 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee
Genesee Valley

Superior Recognition

Alabama
Atlanta Area
Cascade
Central Savannah River Area
Houston Gulf Coast
Nevada
Rocky Mountain
St. Louis

2001-2002 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Cascade
Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee
Genesee Valley

Superior Recognition

Chernobyl
Houston Gulf Coast
Rocky Mountain
St. Louis
San Francisco Bay Area

2000-2001 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Cascade
Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee
Genesee Valley

Superior Recognition

Arabian Gulf
East Tennessee
Houston Gulf Coast
Nevada
Rocky Mountain
St. Louis
San Francisco Bay Area

1999-2000 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee

Superior Recognition

Alabama
Genesee Valley
Houston Gulf Coast
National Capital
Nevada
Rocky Mountain
St. Louis
San Francisco Bay Area

1998-1999 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee

Superior Recognition

Genesee Valley
National Capital
Nevada
Rocky Mountain
St. Louis
San Francisco Bay Area
Southern California

Excellent Recognition

Atlanta Area
Houston Gulf Coast

1997-1998 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee
San Francisco Bay Area
Nevada

Superior Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Idaho-Snake River
Central Savannah River Area
Genesee Valley
National Capital
Rocky Mountain

Excellent Recognition

Houston Gulf Coast
Rattlesnake Mountain
University of Tennessee

1996-1997 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee

Superior Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Central Savannah River Area
Genesee Valley
Houston Gulf Coast
Rocky Mountain
San Francisco Bay Area
Southern California
St. Louis

Excellent Recognition

National Capital
New Jersey
Rattlesnake Mountain

1995-1996 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Catawba Valley
Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee

Superior Recognition

Central Savannah River Area
Genesee Valley
Greater Miami
Indiana Hoosier
Metro New York
Rocky Mountain
San Francisco Bay Area
Southern California
St. Louis
Tampa Bay

Excellent Recognition

Eastern Pennsylvania
Hawaii
Houston Gulf Coast
Seattle

1994-1995 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee

Superior Recognition

Central Savannah River Area
Indiana Hoosier
St. Louis
San Francisco Bay Area
Southern California
Tampa Bay

Excellent Recognition

Genesee Valley
Hawaii
New Jersey
Rocky Mountain
Seattle
Southwestern Ohio

1993-1994 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Alabama
Arabian Gulf
Central Savannah River Area
Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee
Houston Gulf Coast
Indiana Hoosier
New Jersey
North Florida
Rocky Mountain
San Francisco Bay Area
Seattle
South Florida

Superior Recognition

Atlanta
Cascade
Central Savannah River Area
Houston Gulf Coast
Nevada
Rocky Mountain
St. Louis

Excellent Recognition

Eastern Pennsylvania

1992-1993 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Central Savannah River Area
Chicago-Midwest
Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee
New Jersey

Superior Recognition

Atlanta
Cascade
Central Savannah River Area
Houston Gulf Coast
Nevada
Rocky Mountain
St. Louis

Excellent Recognition

Eastern Pennsylvania

1991-1992 Section Awards

Outstanding Recognition

Arabian Gulf
Central Savannah River Area
Chicago-Midwest
Chinook-Calgary
East Tennessee
New Jersey

Superior Recognition

Middle Tennessee

Excellent Recognition

Eastern Pennsylvania

From 1987-1991, AACE gave Outstanding Recognition to a Region of AACE as well as to Sections, based on sizes of small, medium, and large. The Sections are listed here in alphabetical order, not based on their size at that time.

1990-1991

Outstanding Section & Region Awards

Region 3
Central Savannah River Area
East Tennessee
North Florida

1989-1990

Outstanding Section & Region Awards

Region 2
Arabian Gulf
Central Savannah River Area
North Florida

1988-1989

Outstanding Section & Region Awards

Region 1
Arabian Gulf
Greater San Diego
Montreal
South Florida

1987-1988

Outstanding Section & Region Awards

Region 1
Arabian Gulf
Athabasca
Houston Gulf Coast
Rocky Mountain

1986-1987

Outstanding Section & Region Awards

Arabian Gulf
Southern California

From 1976-1986, the only awards given to Sections were in recognition of their publications.

1985-1986

Section Publication Awards

Rocky Mountain
Southern California

1984-1985

Section Publication Awards

Alabama

1983-1984

Section Publication Awards

Seattle
Chicago-Midwest

1982-1983

Section Publication Awards

Chicago-Midwest

1981-1982

Section Publication Awards

Ramapo Valley

1980-1981

Section Publication Awards

New England-Boston

1979-1980

Section Publication Awards

New England-Boston

1978-1979

Section Publication Awards

Houston Gulf Coast

1977-1978

Section Publication Awards

Southwestern Ohio

1976-1977

Section Publication Awards

Metro New York

1975-1976

Section Publication Awards

New England-Boston

Membership

Section Quick Links:

Section Contacts by Region
Section Award Winners
Seminar in a Box Application
How to Start a Section