Aerospace and Aviation Nominations

1. Review the award criteria for the aerospace and aviation alumni awards.
2. Think about who you know who meets the criteria and decide on your nominee.
3. Complete the online nomination form details, telling us about yourself and your nominee.
4. Write your nomination statement and ensure it is no longer than 800 words and contains enough evidence to support your nominations.
5. Hit submit.

Top nomination tips - how to make your nominee stand out

We know our alumni are achieving some amazing things and we can't wait to be inspired with this year's stories. Each year we receives lots of nominations, and that's a lot of stories to read, so we've pulled together our top do's and don'ts.

• DO - Think about how your nominee matches the award criteria and tell us about those aspects. Be sure to give us context and benchmark your nominee's achievements. 
• DO - Make sure your nomination statement hits a balance – not so long that we get lost in the detail, but long enough to address all parts of the nomination criteria.
• DO - Give us evidence and examples, and put them in context - you can include links to websites or articles in your nomination if relevant. 

• DON'T - Don’t cut and paste your nominee’s CV or LinkedIn profile into the statement box - this rarely provides enough evidence and we don't need to know their every career move since leaving Cranfield.
• DON'T - Please don’t use acronyms or technical jargon without explaining them. Our selection panel brings together alumni, Cranfield staff, and faculty, however, there maybe some non-technical selection panel members so please don't assume that we’re experts in all areas of the industry, or have specific scientific or engineering knowledge. 

If you have any questions, please email us and we will be happy to help.

The Distinguished Aerospace Alumni Award is one of Cranfield University’s highest honours. It recognises those individuals who have achieved significant success within the aerospace industry/sector while upholding the highest standards in industry practice. In selecting the Distinguished Aerospace Alumnus/a of the Year, the Selection Panel will consider the following:

• Sustained professional achievement at the highest levels, preferably extending into the year of selection. Professional achievement may be viewed in terms of:
  • Technology/engineering leadership.
  • Achieving transformational change in an organisation.
  • Significant and successful project management.
  • Contribution to company profitability, job creation and other factors.
• Significant impact on their industry and sector, beyond their own role and organisation.
• International visibility: influence/experience working across different geographic regions.
• Regarded as a role model for leadership.
• Innovation and creativity.
• Sustainability: reducing the negative impact of aerospace on the environment.
• Other awards and recognitions.
• Previous relationship with Cranfield or benefit of a potential relationship with Cranfield in the future.

The Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Aerospace Graduates recognises those who have made significant progress in their careers within ten years of graduating from Cranfield. This award recognises those who have the potential to reach the highest levels of success in the future.

In selecting recipients of the Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Aerospace Graduates, the Selection Panel will consider the following:

• Technological/engineering leadership.
• National visibility.
• Early career impact on sector/industry.
• Demonstrable achievement beyond individual position and company.
• International experience and impact.
• Role model behaviours/highest standards of industry practice.
• Relationship with Cranfield since graduation or potential benefit of a future relationship.

The Distinguished Aviation Alumni Award is one of Cranfield University’s highest honours. It recognises those individuals who have achieved significant success within the aviation industry/sector while upholding the highest standards in industry practice. In selecting the Distinguished Aviation Alumnus/a of the Year, the Selection Panel will consider the following:

• Sustained professional achievement at the highest levels, preferably extending into the year of selection. Professional achievement may be viewed in terms of:
  • Technology/engineering/commercial leadership.
  • Achieving transformational change in an organisation.
  • Significant and successful project management.
  • Contribution to company profitability, job creation and other factors.
• Significant impact on their industry and sector, beyond their own role and organisation.
• International visibility: influence/experience working across different geographic regions.
• Regarded as a role model for leadership.
• Innovation and creativity.
• Sustainability: reducing the negative impact of aviation on the environment.
• Other awards and recognitions.
• Previous relationship with Cranfield or benefit of a potential relationship with Cranfield in the future.

The Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Aviation Graduates recognises those who have made significant progress in their careers within ten years of graduating from Cranfield. This award recognises those who have the potential to reach the highest levels of success in the future.

In selecting recipients of the Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Aviation Graduates, the Selection Panel will consider the following:

• Technological/engineering/commercial leadership.
• National visibility.
• Early career impact on sector/industry.
• Demonstrable achievement beyond individual position and company.
• International experience and impact.
• Role model behaviours/highest standards of industry practice.
• Relationship with Cranfield since graduation or potential benefit of a future relationship.

The Alumni Relations and Development Office shall seek nominations for each award via the alumni portal, eNewsletters, social media sites, and through specially targeted messages to alumni, faculty, staff, and students. The closing date for nominations will be indicated and no nominations will be considered after this time.

• The nominator must be one of the following: an alumnus/a, a current or former member of Cranfield University staff, a current student, or an honorary degree recipient.
• The nominator must complete the appropriate nomination form which will be available online from the Alumni Relations and Development Office.
• The nominator must provide a statement of no more than 800 words describing the achievements and contributions that make the nominee worthy of the award. These statements should refer directly to the specific criteria for each award.
• All nominations will be treated as confidential.

Nominees must be a graduate alumnus/a of Cranfield University, covering any postgraduate diploma, Master’s, or PhD. The awards are open to alumni from the Schools of Aerospace, Transport, and Manufacturing – along with all former schools associated with aerospace and aviation, including the College of Aeronautics and the School of Engineering.

Members of the Selection Panel will not be eligible for an award whilst serving on the panel or Council. Honorary graduates will also not be eligible for an award unless they are also a graduate alumnus of the University.

For all awards, the selection panel will consist of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the School of Aerospace Transport and Manufacturing, the Director of Aerospace, the Director of Transport Systems, Director of Alumni Relations and Development, and representatives of the Cranfield College of Aeronautics Alumni Association.

The selection panel will reach an agreement on the winners in each of the categories and award recipients will be notified. The Alumni Relations and Development office will notify all nominators as to whether their nominee has been selected to receive an award. The selection process is confidential and the decisions of the selection panel are final. All unsuccessful nominations can be resubmitted for consideration in future years.