Honors and Awards
2024 application materials now available.
Please click on the award title to see 2024 materials.
The following awards were presented at the Honors and Awards Ceremony during the 2023 AZA Annual Conference.
Edward H. Bean Population Sustainability Award:
Significant Achievement – Black-footed cat; Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Glen Rose, Texas
Innovation Award – Yellowtail fusilier; John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Ill.
William G. Conway International Conservation Award:
Top Honors – Goualougo Triangle Ape Project: Expansion of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park to include the Djeke Triangle; Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Ill.
North American Conservation Award:
Top Honors – Hatchling and Turtle Conservation through Headstarting (H.A.T.C.H.); Zoo New England, Stoneham, Mass.
Angela Peterson Excellence in Diversity Award:
Top Honors – Honoring Our Commitment to Our Community; National Aquarium, Baltimore, Md.
Significant Achievement – The Wildlife Conservation Society's Internship Initiative; WCS / Bronx Zoo, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Education Award:
Top Honors – Research, Internships, and Zoo Education (RIZE) program; Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, Bridgeport, Conn.
Top Honors – Maritime Summer Academy: An Innovative Partnership Serving Norwalk's Lowest-Performing Students; The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Norwalk, Conn.
Significant Achievement – Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Teen Eco Summit; Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell, Ohio
Innovation – Early Explorers Preschool; Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Exhibit Award:
Top Honors – Denny Sanford Wildlife Explorers Basecamp; San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, Calif.
Innovation Award – Into the Deep: Exploring Our Undiscovered Ocean; Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, Calif.
Innovation Award – Redwood Sky Walk; Sequoia Park Zoo, Eureka, Calif.
Facility Award:
Top Honors – HCA Healthcare Veterinary Center at Nashville Zoo; Nashville Zoo, Nashville, Tenn.
Significant Achievement – Helen and Aruther E. Johnson Animal Hospital; Denver Zoological Gardens, Denver, Colo.
Excellence in Marketing Award:
Top Honors – Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins; Birch Aquarium at Scripps, La Jolla, Calif.
Top Honors – "What's It Like?"; San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, Calif.
Significant Achievement – SAFE (Saving animals from extinction); Memphis Zoological Society, Memphis, Tenn.
Significant Achievement – Light Up Your Senses; New England Aquarium, Boston, Mass.
Significant Achievement – Redwood Sky Walk Grand Opening Campaign; Sequoia Park Zoo, Eureka, Calif.
Earned Media Excellence Award:
Top Honors – Centennial Celebration: 100 Years of Your Houston Zoo; Houston Zoo, Houston, Texas
Significant Achievement – Shedd Aquarium Launches its Centennial Commitment; John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Ill.
Significant Achievement – Rosie the Disabled Penguin Meets Children with Similar Challenges; OdySea Aquarium, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Volunteer Engagement Award:
Top Honors – Stranding Response Volunteer Program; National Aquarium, Baltimore, Md.
Significant Achievement – Underwater Connections - Volunteer Dive Team; Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma, Wash.
Research Award:
Top Honors – The critical role of science in achieving success with Sumatran rhinoceros propagation; Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, Ohio
Significant Achievement – Sarasota Dolphin Research Program: Integrated Behavioral, Ecological, Health, and Conservation Research; Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Ill.
Quarter Century Award (for 25 years of continuous AZA accreditation):
Birch Aquarium at Scripps, La Jolla, Calif.
Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Disney's Animal Kingdom, Orlando, Fla.
Although not presented at the Honors and Awards Ceremony during the 2023 AZA Annual Conference, the following awards are currently open for applications:
Awards Conferred via Nomination
R. Marlin Perkins Award for Professional Excellence
- 2023 Honoree: Kevin Bell, CEO Emeritus, Lincoln Park Zoo
- 2022 Honoree: Julie Packard, Executive Director, Monterey Bay Aquarium
- 2021 Honoree: Douglas Myers, President and CEO Emeritus, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
- 2019 Honoree: Kristin L. Vehrs
- 2018 Honoree: J. Stephen McCusker
- 2017 Honoree: Jacqueline Ogden, Ph.D.
- 2016 Honoree: Chuck Bieler, Executive Director Emeritus, San Diego Zoo Global
- 2015 Honoree: David L. Towne, Director Emeritus, Woodland Park Zoo
- 2013 Honoree: Palmer "Satch" Krantz, President and CEO, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
- 2010 Honoree: Karen Sausman, President Emeritus, The Living Desert
- 2008 Honoree: Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
In 1978, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums established its highest award for professional excellence, named for its first recipient, R. Marlin Perkins. Only one recipient can be honored in any given year, and since the award criteria are lofty, it is anticipated that the award will not be given every year.
Nominations are accepted year-round and are due no later than December 15 of the year preceding the year in which the award is to be conferred.
For a full list of awardees, the nomination form, and guidelines, visit the R. Marlin Perkins Award page.
Animal Welfare Lifetime Achievement Award Established July 2017
- 2021 Honoree: Jill Mellen, Ph.D.
- 2018 Honoree: Terry L. Maple, Ph.D.
Deadline: June 14 annually
Animal welfare is a critical part of modern professional animal care, and there are many animals that have benefited from the dedication of animal welfare practitioners. Individuals within the AZA community who have moved the field of animal welfare forward through implementation, research, education, veterinary care and professional development that improves animal lives deserve to and should be recognized. The Animal Welfare Individual Leadership Award honors a person who significantly influences the quality of animals’ lives through long-term personal commitment to the field of animal welfare. The significant contributions can be in the form of animal management, professional development, education, research, and/or exhibit design. Only one recipient can be honored in any given year, and since the award criteria are lofty, it is anticipated that the award will not be given every year.
For a full list of awardees, the nomination form, and guidelines, visit the Animal Welfare Lifetime Achievement Award page.
The Devra Kleiman Scientific Advancement Award
- 2021 Honoree: Oliver Ryder, Ph.D., Director of Conservation Genetics, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
- 2019 Honoree: Robert Lacy, Ph.D., Senior Conservation Scientist Emeritus, Chicago Zoological Society
- 2018 Honoree: presented posthumously to Michael Hutchins, Ph.D.
- 2017 Honoree: Kathy Carlstead, Ph.D.
- 2016 Honoree: Jonathan D. Ballou, Ph.D., Research Scientist Emeritus, Smithsonian Institution
- 2015 Honoree: Cheryl S. Asa, Ph.D., Director of Research, Saint Louis Zoo
- First Award presented posthumously to Devra Kleiman in 2014 at the AZA Annual Conference in Orlando
Deadline: June 14 annually
In March 2014, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums established an award to recognize outstanding scientific research contributions to the field(s) of animal management, education, and/or conservation within the AZA-accredited zoo and aquarium community. This award, named for its first recipient Devra Kleiman, honors an individual’s long-term commitment to using science-based research and mentoring others to advance the zoo and aquarium profession. Only one recipient can be honored in any given year, and since the award criteria are lofty, it is anticipated that the award will not be given every year.
For a full list of awardees, the nomination form, and guidelines, visit the Devra Kleiman Award page.
Tim O'Sullivan Award for Professional Development
- 2023 Recipient: Tony Vecchio, Retired Executive Director, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
- 2015 Recipient: Bruce Bohmke, Chief Operations Officer, Woodland Park Zoo
- 2013 Recipient: Steve Marshall, Director, El Paso Zoo
- 2012 Recipient: Kevin Willis, Director of Biological Programs, Minnesota Zoo
- 2008 Recipient: Margaret A. Dankworth, AZA Executive Director 1972 - 1975
- 2007 Recipient: John Hargleroad, Operations Director, Oglebay Park
- 2005 Recipient: Earl Wells, Retired Director, Fort Wayne Children's Zoo (awarded posthumously)
- 2004 Recipient: Bruce Carr, Ph.D., AZA Director of Conservation Education
Deadline: June 14 annually
The Tim O'Sullivan Award for Professional Development recognizes significant long-term individual achievement and service to AZA members through the AZA Professional Development Program and the AZA Board of Regents.
For a full list of awardees, the nomination form, and guidelines, visit the Tim O'Sullivan Award page.
Wendy Fisher Award for Professional Excellence
- 2017 Honoree: Gary H. Lee, AIA, RLA, Co-Founder and Senior Principal, CLR Design, Inc.
- 2012 Honoree: Kevin McNicholas, K-M Concessions and Service Systems Associates (SSA)
- 2010 Honoree: Charles M. Davis, FAIA, EHDD Architecture
- 2007 Honoree: Joyce Basel, Adventure Boutique, Inc.
Deadline: June 14 annually
Commercial Members who have demonstrated outstanding character, leadership, professional excellence and distinguished service to AZA and fellow Commercial Members. The award is named for its first recipient, Wendy Fisher.
For a full list of awardees, the nomination form, and guidelines, visit the Wendy Fisher Award page.
Honorary Membership Award
The AZA Board of Directors has instituted a moratorium on nominations for Honorary Membership while the Membership Committee and the Board of Directors are in the process of evaluating all membership categories.
AZA has created a special membership category to recognize both members and non-members who have made significant contributions to the profession. Candidates should not be working in the zoo or aquarium profession and are elected by the Board of Directors.