By Nathaniel Lim | Associate Fellow
At the Summit Awards Banquet in Phoenix on 20 May, STC presented the award for Best of Show in the 2014 International Summit Awards (ISA) for Research Priorities for Tropical Ecosystems Under Climate Change. Judy Wyrick accepted the award on behalf of Jeffrey Chambers, Richard Norby, and the Biological and Environmental Research Information System.
This year’s Best of Show (BOS) judges, Louellen Coker—Lead, David Dick, and Thea Teich, reviewed three Distinguished Technical Communication Award winners that were nominated for Best of Show by ISA judge teams. Based on the ISA judges’ recommendations and their own reviews of the entries, the BOS team praised the winner with this citation:
For providing a connected, thorough, and eminently understandable explanation of a complicated but universally important subject to a diverse audience.
STC also recognized 5 Distinguished Technical Communication Award winners, two of whom were at the Summit Awards Banquet.
2010-2011 ICCVAM Biennial Progress Report entered by Catherine Sprankle, Donna Jeanne Corcoran, and the National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods.
2012 ALCF Annual Report, entered by Renee H. Carlson, James Collins, and the ALCF Communications Team. Ms. Carlson accepted in person.
Informal Learning Basics, entered by Saul Carliner, Stephanie Castellano, and Mark Morrow.
The Pocket Paper Engineer, How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step, Volume 3, entered by Carol Barton and Eleni Smitham.
Welch Allyn CP150/250 Office and Hospital Carts, Assembly Instructions, entered by Bobbi Werner and Corrie Baum. Ms. Werner accepted in person.
These 6 entries were on display in the exhibit hall during the Summit.
Mr. Carliner describes his experience since winning his award:
The feedback was helpful. It validated decisions that my editors and I made (we had an unusually intense copyediting round just before going to press), and I know that the award brightened the days of my acquisitions and development editors.
Furthermore, the specific feedback from the judges was also complimentary enough that if I ever need a bit of a boost, I’ll re-read the comments.
Although I am not planning to revise this book anytime soon, I am currently revising another book in the series and will review the feedback as I go.
Ms. Werner describes her experience since winning her award:
My manager nominated me for a Level II Quality Award at my company. In fact, she nominated all of my Tech Comm colleagues who won awards at the regional and international competitions: two writers and three illustrators.
All five nominees just received this award from our President and CEO. His letter to each of us states the following:
“I want to personally thank you for your contributions in creating Welch Allyn’s Technical Documentation for our customers…. As a result of your contributions, you have ensured that Welch Allyn’s customers have clear and concise technical documentation for our products. Congratulations on the awards from the Society for Technical Communication (STC)! This type of initiative and commitment among Welch Allyn employees makes me very confident that we can build on our past successes as we look to a challenging future.
“Keep up the great work!”
In addition, we will share the feedback received from our reviewers to mentor junior writers and promote participation in future competitions.
Each one of us received a $1000 cash award as well. In today’s economy, that’s a most welcome show of appreciation for the excellent work we do.
This year there were 62 entries, with 44 winners or 71% receiving awards. Thank you to the 2013–2014 International Summit Awards committee members: training manager, Dorothy McDuffie; entries manager, Elizabeth Bailey; judge manager, Paula Robertson. Thanks also to the local competition managers and judges, ISA competition judges, competition entrants, and STC staff liaisons Kobla Fiagbedzi and Lloyd Tucker.
Congratulations again to the 2014 ISA Best of Show and Distinguished Technical Communication Award winners.
