International CHRIE Awards

Each year International CHRIE recognizes the best and brightest in the organization with awards and special recognition. Here are the awards that have been designated for those members of International CHRIE who shine so brightly in what they do.

Nomination Information & Criteria

2024 Winners

 2023 Winners

2022 Winners

Past Winners

The Howard B. Meek Award

• Outstanding continuous service to both hospitality education and to International CHRIE for a minimum of 20 years
• A meaningful leadership role in International CHRIE but not necessarily service on the Board of the Directors
• A record of lifetime professional accomplishment
• Member of International CHRIE for a minimum of ten (10) consecutive years
• A record of active participation in International CHRIE

Notes on the Howard B. Meek Award:

• Nominee must be an International CHRIE member at the time of nomination and receipt of the award
• This honor can only be awarded once to an International CHRIE member
• This award honors a lifetime of achievement

Stevenson W. Fletcher Achievement Award

The Stevenson W. Fletcher Achievement Award recognizes an individual educator, trainer, or administrator for outstanding achievement in contributing innovative ideas, methods or programs that have advanced teaching, learning or practice in the field of culinary, hospitality and tourism education. It honors exceptional professional ability and/or commitment through service to International CHRIE and/or to the hospitality industry and education. This award serves as a living memorial to Stevenson W. Fletcher, former program head of Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Administration at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Qualifications for The Stevenson W. Fletcher Achievement Award:

• Record of significant contributions to culinary, hospitality or tourism education
• Pattern of leadership to colleagues and members of ICHRIE
• Outstanding long-term service to International CHRIE and/or service to hospitality education and/or industry for a minimum of 10 years
• Member of International CHRIE for a minimum of ten (10) consecutive years

Notes on the Stevenson W. Fletcher Achievement Award: 

• Nominee must be an International CHRIE member at the time of nomination and receipt of the award
• This honor can only be awarded once to an International CHRIE member
• Educators, trainers, researchers and administrators are eligible for this award
• This award requires commitment and service to International CHRIE OR to the industry or to hospitality in general

Lifetime Research Achievement Award

Sponsored by The School of Hospitality Management at The Pennsylvania State University

The Lifetime Research Achievement Award recognizes an International CHRIE member for lifetime contributions to outstanding scholarship and research in hospitality and tourism. The award honors an International CHRIE member who has significant scholarly research published in hospitality and non-hospitality journals over an extended period.

Qualifications for the Lifetime Research Achievement Award: 

• Demonstration of both leadership in a specialized field of study and high standards in the systematic and objective analysis of data
• Significant contribution to the body of knowledge
• Established record of high-quality scholarly work published for a minimum of 15 years in refereed hospitality or tourism and/or non-hospitality or tourism academic journals
• Minimum of 10 years of active research beyond the terminal degree
• Tenured faculty member with associate professor or full professor rank (or equivalent rank in an organization)
• Record of service as a mentor for graduate students or untenured faculty members
• Must be a member of International CHRIE for ten (10) consecutive years prior to the nominations
• A record of active participation in International CHRIE

Notes on the Lifetime Research Award: 

• Nominee must be an International CHRIE member at the time of nomination and receipt of the award
• Individuals who have received the award within the past three years are not eligible for nomination, but they may win subsequent awards multiple times

Emerging Leader Award

This award recognizes the leadership effort and accomplishments of early career educators of International CHRIE. It honors an individual’s commitment to the mission and vision of International CHRIE and the positive impact the person has made at the federation or international level

Qualifications for the Emerging Leader Award

• Record of inspiring activity
• Participation in the ICHRIE community as an inspiring maker and mover
• Actions that demonstrate innovation and creativity
• Demonstration of strong leadership skills at federation or international level
• Example of knowledge and skills needed in contemporary hospitality industry

Notes on for the Emerging Leader Award

• Nominee must be an International CHRIE member at the time of nomination and receipt of the award
• Nominee must be new to culinary, hospitality or tourism higher education (5-8 years)
• This honor can only be awarded once to an International CHRIE member

Faculty Collegiality Award

The Faculty Collegiality Award is an award given to an individual faculty member or administrator who has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to fostering collegiality amongst peers. This award recognizes a high level of continuous and successful team building skills and activities that support colleagues in their teaching, scholarship, and service both on their campus and in professional organizations.

Qualifications for the Faculty Collegiality Award:

• Record of fostering a culture of collegiality
• Demonstration of collaboration by engaging colleagues to enhance and support the professional development of others
• Pattern of mentoring colleagues through dedication and generosity of spirit in building relationships and creating a sense of belonging in the field
• Record of respect for colleagues and willingness to assume equitable responsibilities for achieving common purposes

Notes on the Faculty Collegiality Award:

• Nominee must be an International CHRIE member at the time of nomination and receipt of the award.
• Individuals who have received the award within the past three years are not eligible for nomination

Excellence in Teaching or Training Award

The Excellence in Teaching or Training recognizes an International CHRIE member for the individual’s implementation of innovative, creative, and effective teaching or training techniques in culinary, hospitality, or tourism education at the secondary school, diploma, college, university, or organization level.

Qualifications for the Excellence in Teaching or Training Award: 

• Demonstrated effectiveness excellence in teaching or training
• Pattern of developing creative teaching or training strategies appropriate to the subjects taught and the level of students or participants
• Significant experience, with a minimum of five years, as a teacher or trainer

Notes on the Excellence in Teaching or Training Award:

• Nominee must be an International CHRIE member at the time of nomination and receipt of the award
• Nominee must hold a full-time teaching or training position in the hospitality field for a minimum of three years
• Nominee must carry a full teaching or training load consistent with the published policies of the home institution or organization
• An International CHRIE member may receive this award more than once
• Administrators with limited teaching responsibilities, part time faculty, adjunct faculty, and graduate teaching assistants are not eligible for this award

Research Award

The Research Award is given to an author of a superior research article or other publication on a topic relevant to the fields of culinary, hospitality or tourism management by an International CHRIE member.

Qualifications for the Research Year Award:

• Paper must have been published in a reputable hospitality/tourism journal or in a related field at the time of nomination
• Significant contribution to the field
• High quality of research conducted
• Nominee must be the first author of the paper

Notes on the Research Award:

• Nominee must be an International CHRIE member at the time of nomination and receipt of the award
• Nominator must submit a PDF copy of the nominated paper
• Publications that have won an award with another organization or association are not eligible
• An International CHRIE member may be nominated and receive the award more than once

McCool Breakthrough Award

This award will be given to an individual, group, program, school, college, association, or corporation that has made a significant breakthrough or introduced a unique approach in the spirit of ICHRIE’s mission. This award honors the spirit of Willie McCool, a dedicated and successful astronaut and son of Audrey and Barry McCool, faculty members at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.

Qualifications for the McCool Breakthrough Award:

• A noteworthy innovative or new way of doing things that demonstrates or suggests a significant improvement or change over regular operations

Notes on the McCool Breakthrough Award:

• Nominee must be an International CHRIE member at the time of nomination and receipt of the award.
• An individual, group, program, school, association or corporation may be nominated and receive the award more than once for different events, activities, project, or programs.
• This award may be presented to an individual, group, team, department, or organization.

The International CHRIE Medal of Honor

The International CHRIE Medal of Honor recognizes superior or extraordinary service and contribution to the growth and operation of International CHRIE. The award honors an attitude of hospitality, great dedication and commitment to the organization, and gracious and selfless service and leadership for the betterment of International CHRIE.

Qualifications for the International CHRIE Medal of Honor Award: 

• The International CHRIE Medal of Honor recipient will have made a significant and notable impact on the International CHRIE organization
• Member of International CHRIE for a minimum of ten (10) consecutive years

Notes on the International CHRIE Medal of Honor Award: 

• Nominee must be an International CHRIE member at the time of nomination and receipt of the award
• The Medal of Honor is reserved for truly exemplary volunteer service to International CHRIE far surpassing reasonable expectations
• The International CHRIE Medal of Honor will not be awarded each year; it will be awarded only in special cases of unique and exemplary service.
• It can be awarded to more than one person in the same year.
• This prestigious service award is granted by the Board of Directors and presented by the President.

Industry Recognition Award

This special award honors a hospitality and tourism industry professional, program, project, and/or organization that has demonstrated commitment to advance culinary, hospitality and tourism education as a discipline.

Qualifications for the Industry Recognition Award:

• A demonstrated record of support for the hospitality and tourism industry and/or for hospitality and tourism education
• A commitment to helping the industry grow
• This is award may be presented to an individual, program, group, corporation, or organization.

Notes on The Industry Recognition Award: 

• This award may be given more than once to an individual, corporation, or organization.
• Preference will be given to International CHRIE members/partners but persons, corporations, and organizations do not have to be International CHRIE members to be nominated or receive the award.
• This prestigious service award is granted by the Board of Directors and presented by the President.

Chef Herman Breithaupt Award

The Chef Herman Breithaupt Award honors the memory of a pioneer in culinary education by recognizing outstanding achievement and contributions to culinary arts or foodservice education by a chef/educator.

Qualifications for the Chef Herman Breithaupt Award:

• Record of high professionalism
• Demonstrated strong commitment to culinary or hospitality education
• Record of contributions to International CHRIE and the industry as a chef/educator
• Chef/educator who is a teacher or trainer in culinary arts or foodservice

Notes on The Chef Herman Breithaupt Award:

• Nominee must be member of International CHRIE at the time of nomination and receipt of the award
• An International CHRIE member may receive the award only once
• This award is reserved for a culinary specialist

Raphael Kavanaugh Champion of Education Award

This unique award honors a corporation, organization, or individual who has made a long- standing commitment to and shown a pattern of support for special initiatives that advance the mission of ICHRIE.

Qualifications for the Raphael Kavanaugh Champion of Education Award:

• Exceptional record of commitment to education for students and/ or employees in the fields of culinary arts, hospitality, or tourism
• Recognition as an outstanding leader in culinary arts, hospitality, or tourism education

Notes for the Raphael Kavanaugh Champion of Education Award:

• Preference will be given to International CHRIE members/partners but persons, corporations, and organizations do not have to be International CHRIE members to be nominated or receive the award
• This award may be presented to an individual, group or organization.
• A person, corporation or organization may be nominated and receive the award more than once
• This prestigious service award is granted by the Board of Directors and presented by the President.

Dr. Lea Dopson ESD Chapter of Distinction Award 

Purpose

The purpose of the annual ESD Chapter of Distinction Award is to recognize a leading local chapter for their efforts in advancing our six points of honor: Creativity, Diversity-Equity-Inclusion, Ethics, Excellence, Leadership, and Service.

Application Procedure

ESD chapters must apply by the deadline, to be considered for a Chapter of Distinction Award. This award is open only to active ESD chapters who adhered to the ESD bylaws by holding at least one initiation ceremony during the past year, organizing at least one service project, and using the “proposed theme” approved by Chapter Advisors at this year’s annual summer ICHRIE Conference ESD Chapter Advisor meeting. Each year, the Board of Governors selects an annual theme for ESD Student Chapters to integrate into all activities, speakers, community service, and professional development.

In 2021 the ESD Board of Governors and ICHRIE Board approved the sixth Point of Honor: Diversity-Equity-Inclusion. Our Six Points of Honor are Creativity, Diversity-Equity-Inclusion, Ethics, Excellence, Leadership, and Service.

Only activities pursued during the most recent academic year should be included in the application packet. Submission materials must include a completed application form along with a detailed statement describing how their local chapter upheld the Six ESD Points of Honor. Supplemental documentation and materials are encouraged, however, please limit the total page count including attachments to 10 pages. Photographs are welcomed as well.

The ESD Board of Governors will review the applications in late May and will notify the awardee(s) in June. Up to three chapters will receive this designation each year. Chapter of Distinction Award Plaques will be awarded at the annual ICHRIE Global Conference.

For overall notes about the awards, click here.