SPE Fellow of the Society Award
Fellow of the Society | SPE, a division of PLASTICS

ABOUT THE FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY

General Program Information

Fellow of the Society is one of SPE's highest membership distinctions. It recognizes members whose outstanding achievements have materially advanced plastics engineering, science, technology, or the management of those activities. Since SPE's Fellow of the Society was established in 1984, 377 members have been awarded this prestigious title.

NOTE: Nominator & Nominee Guidance, Nomination Form, Technical Referee Form, and Document Upload Form can be accessed in the blue navigation bar above.

IMPORTANT! Before uploading Fellow documents, all forms and additional documents MUST BE COMPLETE. Incomplete files will not be considered.

What the Recognition Honors

Fellow recognition is reserved for exceptional professional achievement. It is not awarded primarily for longevity, job title, publication count, or volunteer service. The nominee must demonstrate one or more accomplishments of unusual significance and a substantial personal contribution to those results.

Who May Be Nominated

  • A current SPE member who has been in good standing for at least six consecutive years.
  • A member whose professional record includes outstanding achievements in plastics engineering, science, technology, or the management of those activities.
  • A member sponsored in writing by the Board of an SPE Section, Division, Interest Group, or by an authorized Society committee.

What Strong Nominations Demonstrate

  • A principal achievement - the nominee's most consequential or career-defining contribution.
  • Four additional significant achievements that reinforce the nominee's overall record.
  • Clear evidence of the nominee's individual role, not merely participation in a successful team or organization.
  • Measurable or otherwise credible impact on technology, scientific knowledge, commercial practice, manufacturing, sustainability, safety, education, or the plastics profession.
  • Independent validation from two qualified technical or professional references.

Technical and Management Career Paths

Most Fellows are recognized for technical or scientific achievement. The Bylaws also permit recognition for management of plastics engineering, science, or technology. Management achievement qualifies only when the nominee's technical judgment, strategic direction, or leadership was essential to an exceptional result. General executive success, routine administration, or commercial performance alone is not sufficient.

How the Process Works

  1. An eligible SPE Section, Division, Interest Group, or authorized committee identifies and sponsors a nominee.
  2. SPE Headquarters confirms basic membership eligibility and provides the nomination materials.
  3. The nominee and sponsoring body prepare the professional record and five achievement narratives, including a clearly identified principal achievement.
  4. Two qualified referees independently evaluate the nominee's work.
  5. Fellow Documents are Uploaded into SPE's system. NOTE: All documents must be complete before uploading. Incomplete files will not be considered.
  6. SPE staff reviews the package for completeness and the Fellows Election Committee evaluates the merits of the nomination.
  7. The Fellows Election Committee recommends candidates for recognition; the SPE Executive Committee ratifies the recommendations.
  8. Recipients are notified and recognized at an appropriate SPE event.

Important Submission Principle

Do not include proprietary, confidential, export-controlled, or employer-restricted information. SPE cannot guarantee confidentiality. Present enough non-confidential detail to permit a fair evaluation of the accomplishment, the nominee's role, and the resulting impact.

Selectivity

Fellow is a prestigious distinction, not an automatic advancement based on career length. Meeting the eligibility requirements permits consideration but does not create an entitlement to election. Under the Bylaws, Fellows may not exceed five percent of SPE voting members in good standing.

NOTE: Nominator & Nominee Guidance, Nomination Form, Technical Referee Form, and Document Upload Form can be accessed in the blue navigation bar above.

IMPORTANT! Before uploading Fellow documents, all forms and additional documents MUST BE COMPLETE. Incomplete files will not be considered.

Fellow of the Society 2027 Nomination Dates:

  • Call for Nominees Opens - October 1, 2026
  • Nominations End - November 16, 2026
  • Committee Review - Completed by December 15, 2026
  • Recipients Announced: Early January 2027

Questions
Questions about eligibility, service-point classifications, Chapter endorsement, or submission requirements should be directed to the SPE staff liaison. Contact: Carol Barry, Chair, Fellow of the Society 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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