The Awards Committee is searching for nominees who you feel are deserving of national recognition for their work in ACB or the blindness community. Awards will be presented at the 2026 conference and convention in St. Louis, Missouri.
All nomination letters MUST be received electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on April 1st, 2026. Letters received after that date will not be accepted. We ask that they be limited to no more than 750 words. Tell us who your nominee is and why you feel they are deserving of a national award. Email your nomination letters to awards@mail.acb.org.
Once the committee has received all of your nominations, we will review and judge them against the criteria for the award for which they have been nominated.
All About the Awards
The Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award is given in recognition of a blind person who may or may not be a member of a blindness organization but who has, through his or her personal characteristics and activities, unrelated to his/her employment, contributed most to the acceptance and understanding of blind people as capable, contributing members of the community.
Originally called the Ambassador Award, this award was first given in 1963. Recent recipients include Allan Peterson (2021), Janet Dickelman (2022), Carla Ruschival (2023), Michael Garrett (2024), and Kim Charlson (2025).
The George Card Award is given to an individual who has dedicated his or her life to work with and for people who are blind, making a real difference and improving quality of life, for providing leadership and being a positive role model.
George Card was the first recipient of this award in 1968. Card’s leadership roles included that of executive secretary of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind, member of the ACB Board of Directors, and delegate to the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind. More recent recipients include Camille Caffarelli (2020), Sandra Troiano (2023), Mitch Pomerantz (2024), and Pat Sheehan (2025).
The James R. Olsen Distinguished Service Award is periodically given to individuals who have made important contributions which have advanced opportunities for the blind community. This award can be given to an individual or an organization.
This award was originally named the Distinguished Service Award. It was renamed for James R. “Jim” Olsen, ACB’s former treasurer and long-time CFO, following his passing in 2005. Recent winners include Kim Crowell and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (2021), JPMorgan Chase (2023), the Hull Foundation and Learning Center (2024), and Lukkas Franck (2025).
The Robert S. Bray Award is given to a person who has made a contribution toward improving library technology or communication devices. It could also be given for expanding access for all blind people, or for making opportunities within the mainstream media.
This award was named for Robert S. Bray, who was chief of the Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress — now known as the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Recent recipients include Karen Keninger (2020), Brian Hartgen (2023), Jonathan Mosen (2024), and Chanelle Allen (2025).
The Margarine G. Beaman Volunteer Recognition Award honors individuals who have given tirelessly of their efforts, resources, expertise or time toward improving the quality of life in the blindness community. The achievements, accomplishments or service on which the nominations are based must reflect ACB’s vision and mission. This award may be given to a deserving individual or organization.
The award was named for Margarine Beaman, who was the convention’s volunteer coordinator. It was first given in 2016 to Margarine Beaman. Recent recipients include Michael Smitherman (2020), Rhonda Trott (2022), Sheila Young (2023), Leslie Spoone (2024), and Cecily Laney Nipper (2025).
The Affiliate Outreach Award is based on a recommendation by an affiliate president which recognizes a local chapter or an affiliate for a new outreach program. This program must have a measurable outcome.
The Affiliate Outreach Award was first presented in 2000 to the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International. Other previous winners include the Middle Tennessee Council of the Blind (2009), ACB of Ohio-Columbus Chapter (2015), and Friends ‘n Focus-Medina (Ohio) chapter (2021).
Final Reminders
Nominations open on January 1st and close on April 1st, 2026. Submit your letters as soon as possible; late submissions will not be considered. Remember that these individuals will be considered for national recognition, not for what they have done on a local or state level. The email address is awards@mail.acb.org. We hope we’ll hear from many of you soon.
If you have any questions, contact Carrie Muth at (541) 269-1993, or Koni Sims at (605) 941-9512.