SPE Honored Service Member Awards
Honored Service Member | SPE, a division of PLASTICS

Honored Service Member Award

About HSM

Recognizing extraordinary volunteer service and impact

About the Recognition

Honored Service Member (HSM) is one of the Society of Plastics Engineers’ most distinguished forms of member recognition. It honors SPE members whose long-term volunteer service has produced exceptional and meaningful benefits for the Society, its members, and its objectives.

HSM recognition is based on both sustained service and demonstrated impact. Years of service and volunteer responsibilities establish eligibility for consideration; they do not, by themselves, guarantee election.  Since SPE's HSM Award was established in 1992, 367 members have been awarded this prestigious title.

NOTE: Nomination form, HSM judging criteria, and HSM guidance can be accessed in the blue navigation bar above.

Who May Be Nominated

  • A current SPE member in good standing who has been a member in good standing for at least six years.
  • A member who has received the SPE President’s Cup, or who has demonstrated long-term, outstanding volunteer service to and support of SPE and its objectives.
  • All nominations must include the endorsement of the Board of Directors of at least one SPE Section, Division, or Interest Group.

Who May Submit a Nomination
Any SPE member in good standing may nominate another member. Because the nominee will ordinarily possess information that no single nominator can fully provide, the nominator and nominee work together to complete the submission. Self-nominations are not accepted.

How the Process Works

  1. A member submits a nomination, including an endorsement by an SPE Chapter (Section, Division, Special Interest Group, Regional Technical Group, or Division-in-Formation) Board.
  2. The nominee completes the service history and provides information about the most important results of their SPE volunteer work. 
  3. SPE verifies membership eligibility and calculates the candidate’s objective SPE Service Points.
  4. Candidates who meet the minimum service-point threshold advance to the HSM Election Committee for impact review.
  5. The Election Committee evaluates the significance, benefits, personal contribution, reach, and lasting value of the candidate’s service.
  6. Election requires an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Election Committee members voting.
  7. The Election Committee’s recommendations are forwarded to the SPE Executive Committee for final organizational approval.  Questions may be addressed back to the HSM Election Committee.
  8. The nomination must include at least three letters of commendation from knowledgeable others.
  9. The schedule will be published annually, with the new Honored Service Members announced in January of each year and recognized at ANTEC®, or at another appropriate event.

Two Standards Must Be Met

Objective eligibility

  • Question - Has the candidate met all bylaw requirements and earned at least 60 SPE Service Points?
  • Result - Only candidates who meet the objective threshold advance.

Impact evaluation

  • Question - Does the candidate's service demonstrate the distinction and impact expected of an Honored Service Member?
  • Result - The Election Committee evaluates the record and votes.

What Makes a Strong Nomination

  • A complete and accurate record of qualifying SPE volunteer service.
  • Clear descriptions of what the nominee personally did—not merely the titles held.
  • Evidence of meaningful results for SPE, its members, Chapters, technical communities, programs, or objectives.
  • Specific examples, data, and outcomes whenever available.
  • Evidence that the nominee’s contributions created value beyond routine performance of an assigned role.

Important Distinction
Service points establish eligibility. Impact earns the recognition.

Annual Timeline
SPE will publish the nomination opening date, submission deadline, review period, and recognition schedule for each annual cycle. Only complete nominations received by the published deadline will be considered.

Key Dates

  • Call for Nominees Opens - September 10, 2026
  • Nominations End - November 15, 2026
  • Committee Decision - December 15, 2026

Questions
Questions about eligibility, service-point classifications, Chapter endorsement, or submission requirements should be directed to the SPE staff liaison. Contact: Donna Davis, Chair, HSM Committee.

This educational program is provided as a service of SPE. The views and opinions expressed on this or any SPE educational program are those of the Speaker(s) and/or the persons appearing with the Speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc. (SPE) or its officials, employees or designees. To comment or to present an opposing or supporting opinion, please contact us at info@4SPE.org.

Copyright & Permission to Use

When you enter a SPE, a division of PLASTICS event or program, you enter an area where photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By entering the event premises, you consent to interview(s), photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, webcasts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on websites, social media, or any other purpose by SPE and their affiliates and representatives. Images, photos and/or videos may be used to promote similar events in the future, highlight the event and exhibit the capabilities of SPE. You release SPE, their officers and employees, and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the taking, recording, digitizing, or publication and use of interviews, photographs, computer images, video and/or or sound recordings. By entering the event premises, you waive all rights you may have to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any use, exhibition, streaming, web casting, televising, or other publication of these materials, regardless of the purpose or sponsoring of such use, exhibiting, broadcasting, web casting, or other publication irrespective of whether a fee for admission or sponsorship is charged. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by SPE or the person or entity designated to do so by SPE. You have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before entering the event.

Anti-Trust Statement

  1. No discussion among members, volunteers, or staff, which attempts to arrive at any agreement regarding prices, terms or conditions of sale, distribution, volume, territories, or customers;
  2. No activity or communication which might be construed as an attempt to prevent any person or business entity from gaining access to any market or customer for goods or services or any business entity from obtaining services or a supply of goods;
  3. No activity or communication which might be construed as an agreement to refrain from purchasing or using any materials, equipment, services or supplies of or from any supplier; or
  4. No other activity which violates anti-trust or applicable laws aimed at preventing unfair competition.

For more information, visit the SPE Code of Conduct page.

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