IMPACT Awards Nomination Form

The IMPACT Awards Luncheon is an annual celebration of internship excellence. Work and Learn Indiana honors nominees and winners in the categories of Work-Based Learner of the Year, Outstanding Employer of the Year, Intern Work-Based Learning Supervisor of the Year and Career Development Professional of the Year. The nominations are submitted by the public and winners are chosen by a group of impartial judges.

Award Categories

Work-Based Learner of the Year (3)

  • High School
  • College
  • Non-Traditional.
  • *High school and college interns must be enrolled in school during the time of their internship in 2021. Non-Traditional category is for an intern who was not an enrolled student at the time of the internship or was 26 years old or older during the internship.

Career Development Professional of the Year (2)

  • High School
  • College
  • *This individual must be a full-time employee of an Indiana academic institution.

Outstanding Employer of the Year (2)

  • Non-Profit
  • For Profit
  • *Organizations must be located in Indiana.

Intern Work-Based Learning Supervisor of the Year (1)

  • *This individual must be a full-time, or part-time, employee of an organization located in Indiana.

Guidelines for nominations

  1. Double check to make sure everything is spelled correctly. All fields are required.
  2. Your responses to each criterion should be 2000 characters (about 300 words) or less.
  3. The criteria are the items our judges will reflect on as they are choosing winners. We encourage you to include stories, facts, measurements and the significance of your nominee’s impact specific to each criterion.
  4. The nomination deadline is Nov. 12, 2021 at 5 p.m. EST. We do not accept late entries!
  5. You are invited to submit more than one nomination in any or all of the four award categories.
  6. Please allow two business days to receive the confirmation email stating that your nomination has been submitted. If you do not receive a confirmation in two business days, email WorkandLearnIN@indianachamber.com
  7. Once your nomination has been submitted, you will not be able to make changes on the online form. If there is a major change (name, employment status, etc.), please email WorkandLearnIN@indianachamber.com immediately.

Criteria to address in each category

Work-Based Learner of the Year

Internship supervisors and university career development professionals may nominate interns whom they feel warrant recognition for their performance during their internship. (Please include metrics where available)

  1. Describe the intern’s contribution to the business’ overall performance. Please explain how the intern made a positive impact through his/her project work and work ethic.
  2. Describe how the intern demonstrated leadership during the course of the internship and how he or she built meaningful relationships with other employees, other organizations and clients/customers.
  3. Describe how the intern exhibited professionalism in the workplace through communication, team work, time management, problem solving and initiative.
  4. Please include any additional information you would like to share about the nominee.

Career Development Professional of the Year

Interns, employers and academic colleagues may nominate individuals for Career Development Professional of the Year. This individual must be a full-time employee of an Indiana academic institution. (Please include metrics where available)

  1. Explain this professional’s assistance to employers with the creation or enhancement of internship programs and connections with industry to make these opportunities available for students.
  2. Describe this professional’s stand-out qualities in communication with students and employers.
  3. Describe this professional’s strength as a true student advocate and coach on internship professionalism and career development.
  4. Please include any additional information you would like to share about the nominee.

Outstanding Employer of the Year

Interns, employees of the organization and university career development professionals who work directly with the employer, may nominate an organization for Outstanding Employer of the Year. This award recognizes organizations that have created a quality internship program. Organization must be located in Indiana. (Please include metrics where available)

  1. Describe this employer’s innovative approach to an internship program.
  2. Describe this employer’s formation of meaningful project work and goals for interns.
  3. Describe how this employer provides their intern(s) with ways to grow professionally (professional mentors, networking opportunities, etc.).
  4. Please include any additional information you would like to share about the nominee.

Intern Work-Based Learning Supervisor of the Year

Interns, career development professionals or employee colleagues may nominate internship supervisors (including managers and mentors) who work directly with interns whom they feel warrant recognition for their performance on the job. Where possible, list strengths of the nominee, this could include leadership skills, professionalism and mentorship. This individual must be a full-time, or part-time, employee of an organization located in Indiana. (Please include metrics where available)

  1. Describe how the nominee has gone above and beyond the standard work expectations as a supervisor.
  2. Describe the impact the nominee has had on your internship and your skill development. Or describe the opportunities the nominee has provided to the interns they supervise.
  3. Describe the qualities of the nominee that sets him/her apart from other internship supervisors.
  4. Please include any additional information you would like to share about the nominee.

Contact Work and Learn Indiana with questions, (317) 264-6852, WorkandLearnIN@indianachamber.com.

Nominations for the IMPACT Awards have been closed.